A newly recorded drought-tolerant terrestrial cyanobacterium, Oculatella ucrainica Oxana Vinogradova & Tatiana Mikhailyuk, originally isolated from soil crusts and coastal areas in 2017, is reported in China for the first time. In this study, two filamentous cyanobacteria were isolated from moist soil at Taiyuan Normal University, Shanxi Province, and damp walls in Huaxi Park, Guizhou Province. These strains displayed morphological similarities to O. ucrainica, both featuring orange spots on the apical cells of their trichomes. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences demonstrated high similarity (above 99%) between the two isolates and O. ucrainica, with both strains clustering on a single branch with high bootstrap support. Furthermore, the secondary structure of these cyanobacteria closely resembled that of O. ucrainica, further corroborating their identification as members of this species. This study represents the first report of O. ucrainica in China.

Flooding stress constitutes a major abiotic challenge in agricultural production. Flooding stress, including waterlogging and submergence, inhibits plant growth and development through hypoxia, ion toxicity, and energy deficits. As such, plants have evolved various adaptive responses and mechanisms to counter flooding stress under diverse ecological conditions. This review discusses the detrimental effects of flooding stress on plants, as well as the morphological diversity and molecular mechanisms associated with plant adaptation to flooding stress. The genetic strategies for improving plant resistance to flooding stress are also discussed. This review aims to provide guidance for future research into the mechanisms of plant resistance to flooding stress and flooding stress-resistant crop breeding.

Hordeum murinum subsp. leporinum (Link) Arcang., an invasive plant newly recorded in China, is described. A key for identifying the three subspecies of Hordeum murinum, including subsp. murinum, along with ink drawings and color photographs, is provided. Field surveys revealed that the plant spreads through vehicles, humans, and animals. The potential risk of its large-scale expansion warrants increased attention in China.

Delay of germination 1 (DOG1) is a master regulator of seed dormancy and cooperates with abscisic acid (ABA) to delay seed germination. The core ABA signaling pathway and DOG1 pathway converge in protein phosphatase 2C (PP2C). DOG1 requires PP2C to regulate seed dormancy and enhances ABA signaling by binding to ABA HYPERSENSITIVE GERMINATION 1/3 (AHG1/AHG3). DOG1 suppresses AHG1 activity to increase ABA sensitivity and induce seed dormancy. In recent years, significant progress has been made in research on the regulation of seed dormancy and germination by DOG1. In this review, we summarize research achievements in this field, including the role of DOG1 in seed maturation, dormancy, and germination, the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms of DOG1 expression, and the regulation and action mechanism of DOG1 on seed dormancy and germination. We also highlight scientific issues that need to be further investigated in this field.

Polyacetylenes (PAs) are a class of bioactive plant-specific defense compounds primarily produced by campanulid plants. Early PA biosynthesis is catalyzed by fatty acid desaturase 2 (FAD2). In this study, we identified theFAD2gene family inAralia elata(Miq.) Seem. andA. fargesiiFranch., members of the Araliaceae family, a major source of PA, and analyzed their conserved motifs, domains, chromosome distribution, gene collinearity, evolutionary relationships, molecular evolution rates, and expression patterns. Results indicated that theFAD2gene family inAraliahas undergone extensive expansion, likely through whole-genome duplication (WGD) or segmental duplication. The conserved motifs of FAD2, despite their different functions, were consistent, but diverged in representativeAraliaspecies with different life forms (herbaceous vs. woody). Furthermore,A. elatapossessed four different functionalFAD2genes, expressed differently in different tissues. This study holds important theoretical significance for the identification ofAraliaspecies, the discovery of new genes for PA synthesis, and the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying the high diversity of PAs in campanulids.

UbiA membrane-bound aromatic prenyltransferases (UbiA PTs) catalyze the transfer of prenyl moieties to aromatic acceptor molecules to form C-C or C-O bonds, and participate in the biosynthesis of important plant chemicals, including ubiquinone, plastoquinone, chlorophyll, and tocopherol. A variety of aromatic secondary metabolites with prenyl groups in plants are also products of this class of enzyme. The introduction of prenyl groups increases the structural diversity and biological activity of natural products. In this paper, we introduce the basic types of UbiA families in plants, summarize the substrate selectivity and catalytic characteristics of 57 UbiA PTs related to biosynthesis of secondary metabolites (flavonoids, coumarins, stilbenes), and discuss their phylogenetic relationship with primary metabolism-related PTs. We also discuss the exploration strategies of prenyltransferase genes and the application prospects of targeted synthesis of active prenylated compounds by microbial metabolic engineering.

In the post-genomic era, both plant genetic transformation and genome editing have emerged as critical tools for gene function research. Plant genetic transformation has evolved from methods requiring tissue culture to new approaches that bypass tissue culture entirely. Furthermore, gene editing technology has advanced from initial techniques of targeted gene segment modification and repair to more sophisticated strategies, such as precise nucleotide substitution and targeted insertion, deletion, and segment editing at specific sites without the need for cutting. Recent advancements in both plant genetic transformation and genome editing have significantly accelerated the field of plant biotechnology. In the present paper, we review recent progress on plant genetic transformation and genome editing technologies, as well as their applications in medicinal plants, providing insights into gene function analysis and molecular breeding strategies for medicinal plants.

The content of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) in different plant tissues reflects the energy allocation strategies within plant individuals. Understanding the dynamic changes in NSC under drought stress can provide insights into how plants manage resource distribution in drought conditions. In this study, two psammophyte species from southeastern Xizang (Artemisia gmelinii Weber and Hippophae rhamnoides subsp. Yunnanensis Rousi) were selected to explore the distribution dynamics of NSC in different organs (leaves, branches, coarse roots, and fine roots) under varying drought intensities. Results showed that: (1) Intensified drought stress significantly increased the root-to-shoot ratio and the accumulation of soluble sugars and NSC in branches, coarse roots, and fine roots; (2) Under drought stress, there was a preferential allocation of NSC to underground parts, with leaves and fine roots primarily accumulating NSC in the form of soluble sugars; (3) In the fine roots of A. gmelinii, the proportion of soluble sugars, starch, and NSC decreased with intensifying drought, whereas in H. yunnanensis, the proportion of soluble sugars, starch, and NSC increased with intensifying drought. This study suggests that plants mitigate drought stress by storing more soluble sugars and enhance their drought resilience by allocating more NSC to the roots.

Cycads, the oldest living seed plants, are primarily distributed in tropical and subtropical regions and are critically endangered. Comparative analysis of leaf traits between tropical-subtropical gymnosperm cycads and woody angiosperms offers valuable insights into the ecological strategies of cycad species. This study measured the morphological, anatomical, and hydraulic characteristics of leaves (pinnae) from 28 cycad species in the Nanning Botanical Garden. In addition, leaf traits of 79 tropical-subtropical forest tree species were compiled for comparative analysis. Results showed that: (1) Compared to angiosperms, cycads exhibited thicker leaves, higher saturated water content (SWC), stronger resistance to water loss (Ψ_tlp), and lower specific leaf area (SLA) and stomatal density (SD). However, the differences in leaf tissue thickness (MT) between the two taxa were not significant. (2) The network edge density (ED) of leaf traits in angiosperms was significantly higher than in cycads, while angiosperms showed lower network diameter and average path length. This indicates stronger correlations among angiosperm traits, facilitating more efficient resource utilization in tropical and subtropical environments. (3) Unlike angiosperms, SLA and Ψ_tlp in cycads were decoupled from SWC, suggesting that cycads rely more on water uptake through root systems or storage in stems rather than fine-tuning leaf physical properties for water regulation. This study highlights the variability and diversity of adaptive strategies across plant taxa and provides insights into the unique ecological adaptations of cycads in tropical and subtropical environments.

Cupressus gigantea W. C. Cheng & L. K. Fu, a tree species endemic to Tibet and classified as a national first-class protected species in China, requires clear delineation of its potential suitable distribution for effective conservation, introduction, and breeding programs. This study established the MaxEnt model, using the “kuenm” R package to optimize model parameters, to predict the potential distribution of C. gigantea across China. Environmental variables influencing distribution were analyzed through percent contribution and Jackknife tests. The optimized model demonstrated superior predictive accuracy and reduced complexity compared to the default parameter model. Key factors influencing the distribution of C. gigantea included distance from rivers, temperature seasonality, isothermality, slope, and precipitation during the coldest quarter. Predicted suitable distribution areas were primarily located in Tibet and Sichuan, with the cities of Nyingchi, Lhoka, Lhasa, and Rikaze in Tibet encompassing the entirety of moderately suitable (2 298 km²) and highly suitable areas (746 km²). The high suitability area was exclusively distributed in Nyingchi (563 km²) and Lhoka (183 km²), representing about 0.062% of the total area of Tibet. The corridor between Lang County and Milin County emerged as the core habitat for C. gigantea, underscoring the need to prioritize conservation efforts in this critical region.

Ecosystem degradation diminishes ecosystem services and can have a profound impact on human well-being. Restoring the degraded ecosystems and enhancing ecological services are major global challenges. In this paper, we provide an overview of the missions and goals of ecological restoration and propose that nature-based solutions are essential for such restoration efforts. We also propose the concept of “near-natural precise restoration”, detailing its theoretical basis and key technical approaches. Finally, we introduce a case study concerning the near-natural precise restoration of degraded ecosystems around Danjiangkou Reservoir, a crucial water source region for the middle route of the South-to-North Water Transfer Project. Taken together, this review establishes a theoretical framework for near-natural precise restoration.

Fruit trees, vital to global agriculture, depend heavily on pollinators to facilitate successful reproduction and ensure optimal yield. Microorganisms associated with anthers can influence pollen viability, and their community composition may be affected by pollinator activity. While understanding the diversity and community assembly patterns of these microorganisms has potential implications for enhancing the reproductive fitness of fruit trees, research in this area remains relatively scarce. This study employed high-throughput sequencing to analyze the diversity and community structure of fungi and bacteria on the anthers of loquat (Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.) before (bagged group) and after (nature group) pollinator visitation. Results showed that pollinator visitation had no significant effect on the diversity or composition of anther microbiomes. In the bagged group, dominant fungal taxa included Cladosporiaceae and Mycosphaerellaceae, whereas Cladosporiaceae and Metschnikowiaceae were dominant in the nature group. Bacterial communities in both groups were also dominated by Alcaligenaceae and Erwiniaceae. These findings indicate that the microbial community composition within loquat anthers is inherently stable and largely unaffected by pollinator activity.

Floral scents play a critical role in mediating plant-pollinator interactions and hold significant commercial value in the perfume industry. To analyze these scents, researchers have developed various collection methods, with dynamic headspace collection-using continuous airflow to capture volatile compounds onto sorbent traps—being the most commonly used. However, the lack of standardized experimental protocols poses challenges in achieving consistent and reliable results. This study systematically evaluated the performance of three sorbent traps (charcoal, Tenax TA, and Propak Q), two elution solvents (hexane and dichloromethane), and three connection methods (push-pull, circulation, and closed-loop) through controlled indoor and outdoor experiments using a standard mixture of floral scent components and Abelia×grandiflora (André) Rehder. Results showed that Propak Q outperformed the other sorbent traps, while charcoal and Tenax TA exhibited relatively poor adsorption capabilities for benzenes and aliphatic compounds, respectively. The effects of the two elution solvents were similar. Among the three connection methods, the push-pull approach delivered the most consistent results, effectively preserving the natural freshness of floral scents. Based on these findings, the study recommends the use of Propak Q as the preferred sorbent trap and the push-pull method for floral scent experiments, particularly in cases where the composition of volatile compounds is unknown or when community-level analyses are required.