Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) represent a large and diverse enzyme family ubiquitously distributed across the plant kingdom. These proteins catalyze the conjugation of glutathione (GSH) with electrophilic substrat...Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) represent a large and diverse enzyme family ubiquitously distributed across the plant kingdom. These proteins catalyze the conjugation of glutathione (GSH) with electrophilic substrates in response to various stress conditions. Beyond their role in stress adaptation, certain GSTs are integral regulators of plant growth and development, contributing to a range of physiological processes. Most GST proteins exhibit dual enzymatic activities, functioning as both transferases and peroxidases, which enables their involvement in diverse cellular processes, including detoxification and stress responses. Recent advancements, particularly in X-ray crystallography, have enabled detailed structural analysis of GST proteins, significantly enhancing our understanding of their biological functions. This review offers a comprehensive overview of the classification and structural characteristics of GSTs in plants. It also highlights recent findings on their roles in plant growth and development, cell signaling, catalytic transport, and stress tolerance. Furthermore, key scientific challenges related to GSTs are discussed, focusing on their potential applications in agriculture. These insights aim to facilitate the screening of functional GST genes and support molecular breeding efforts across diverse crop species.展开更多
Ammonium toxicity in plants remains poorly understood despite extensive research.While nitrate is known to benefit plant growth,the synergistic effects of nitrate in mitigating ammonium toxicity,even at low concentrat...Ammonium toxicity in plants remains poorly understood despite extensive research.While nitrate is known to benefit plant growth,the synergistic effects of nitrate in mitigating ammonium toxicity,even at low concentrations,are not fully elucidated.This review delves into the physiological and molecular nature of this phenomenon.To date,nitrate-dependent alleviation of ammonium toxicity is the result of cumulative consequences of the role of nitrate as a nutrient and signal in plant performance.The ability to counteract the ammonium-induced acidification through nitrate uptake and metabolism,the enhancement of potassium uptake as an essential nitrate counterion,and the nitratedependent signaling of key factors involved in ammonium assimilation,ROS scavenging,and growth hormone biosynthesis,are the most relevant hallmarks.In addition,evidence suggests that the availability of nitrate and ammonium has driven ecological selection in plants,determining current N preferences,and may have led to the selection of nitrate-dependent and ammonium-sensitive domesticated crops and the inefficient use of N fertilizers in agriculture.As ammonium toxicity limits N fertilization options and reduces agricultural yields,when it could be a more sustainable and cheaper alternative to nitrate,this review provides a better understanding of how plants use nitrate to counteract the problematic aspects of ammonium nutrition.展开更多
Livestock farming is a critical pillar of Tajikistan’s national economy and livelihood security.However,significant economic challenges in the country have led to the degradation of grassland ecosystems.This degradat...Livestock farming is a critical pillar of Tajikistan’s national economy and livelihood security.However,significant economic challenges in the country have led to the degradation of grassland ecosystems.This degradation has not only reduced the productivity of grassland ecosystems but also severely impacted their ecological functions.A particularly concerning consequence is the threat to biodiversity,as the survival and persistence of endemic,rare,and endangered plant species are at serious risk,thereby diminishing the value of species’genetic resources.Based on the data from multiple sources such as literature reviews,field observations,and national statistics,this study employed a systematic literature review and meta-analysis to investigate the current status,causes of degradation,and restoration measures for grassland ecosystems in Tajikistan.The results revealed that Tajikistan’s grassland ecosystems support exceptionally high plant species diversity,comprising over 4500 vascular plant species,including nearly 1500 endemic and sub-endemic taxa that constitute a unique genetic reservoir.These ecosystems are experiencing severe degradation,characterized by significantly reduced vegetation cover and declining species richness.Palatable forage species are increasingly being displaced by unpalatable,thorny,and poisonous species.The primary drivers of degradation include excessive grazing pressure,which disrupts plant reproductive cycles and regeneration capacity,habitat fragmentation due to urbanization and infrastructure development,and uncontrolled exploitation of medicinal and edible plants.Climate change,particularly rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns,further exacerbates these anthropogenic pressures.Ecological restoration experiments suggested that both ecosystem productivity and plant species diversity are significantly enhanced by systematic reseeding trials using altitude-adapted native species.These findings underscore the necessity of establishing scientifically grounded approaches for ecological restoration.展开更多
To better understand the effects of ground-level ozone(O_(3))on nutrients and stoichiometry in different plant organs,urban tree species Celtis sinensis,Cyclocarya paliu-rus,Quercus acutissima,and Quercus nuttallii we...To better understand the effects of ground-level ozone(O_(3))on nutrients and stoichiometry in different plant organs,urban tree species Celtis sinensis,Cyclocarya paliu-rus,Quercus acutissima,and Quercus nuttallii were sub-jected to a constant exposure to charcoal-filtered air(CF),nonfiltered air(NF),or NF+40,60,or 80 nmol O_(3)mol^(-1)(NF40,NF60,and NF80)starting early in the summer of the growing season.At the end of summer,net CO_(2)assimila-tion rate(A),stomatal conductance(gs),leaf mass per area(LMA),and/or leaf greenness(SPAD)either were not sig-nificantly affected by elevated O_(3)or were even higher in some cases during the summer compared with the CF or NF controls.LMA was significantly lower in autumn only after the highest O_(3)exposures.Compared to NF,NF40 caused a large increase in gs across species in late summer and more K and Mn in stems.At the end of the growing season,nutri-ent status and stoichiometric ratios in different organs were variously altered under O_(3)stress;many changes were large and often species-specific.Across O_(3)treatments,LMA was primarily associated with C and Mg levels in leaves and Ca levels in leaves and stems.NF40 enriched K,P,Fe,and Mn in stems,relative to NF,and NF60 enhanced Ca in leaves relative to CF and NF40.Moreover,NF resulted in a higher Ca/Mg ratio in leaves of Q.acutissima only,relative to the other O_(3)regimes.Interestingly,across species,O_(3)stress led to different nutrient modifications in different organs(stems+branches vs leaves).Thus,ambient and/or elevated O_(3)exposures can alter the dynamics and distribution of nutrients and disrupt stoichiometry in different organs in a species-specific manner.Changes in stoichiometry reflect an important defense mechanism in plants under O_(3),and O_(3)pollution adds more risk to ecological stoichiometries in urban areas.展开更多
Publisher Correction to:Journal of Forestry Research(2025)36:29 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-025-01823-0 In Fig.4c of this article,the lower part of the figure was unintentionally cropped and incomplete during the p...Publisher Correction to:Journal of Forestry Research(2025)36:29 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-025-01823-0 In Fig.4c of this article,the lower part of the figure was unintentionally cropped and incomplete during the publisher's production process.The published incorrect version and the corrected version of Fig.4 are given below.展开更多
Tajikistan represents a core region of the biodiversity hotspot in Central Asian mountains and has exceptional vascular plant diversity.However,the species diversity of the country faces urgent conservation challenges...Tajikistan represents a core region of the biodiversity hotspot in Central Asian mountains and has exceptional vascular plant diversity.However,the species diversity of the country faces urgent conservation challenges.There has been a lack of a comprehensive and multidimensional assessment to inform strategic conservation planning.Therefore,this study integrated 4 key biodiversity indices including species richness(SR),phylogenetic diversity(PD),threatened species richness(TSR),and endemic species richness(ESR)to map species diversity distribution patterns,identify conservation gaps,and elucidate their effects of climatic factors.This study revealed that species diversity shows a clear trend of decreasing from the western region to the eastern region of Tajikistan.The central–western mountains(specifically the Gissar-Darvasian and Zeravshanian regions)emerge as irreplaceable biodiversity hotspots.However,we found a severe spatial mismatch between these priority areas and the existing protected areas(PAs).Protection coverage for all hotspots was alarmingly low,ranging from 31.00%to 38.00%.Consequently,a critical 64.80%of integrated priority areas fall outside of the current PAs,representing a major conservation gap.This study identified precipitation seasonality and isothermality as the principal drivers,collectively explaining over 50.00%of the diversity variation and suggesting high vulnerability to hydrological shifts.Furthermore,we detected significant geographic sampling bias in the public biodiversity databases,with the most critical hotspot being systematically under-sampled.This study provides a robust scientific basis for conservation action,highlighting the urgent need to strategically expand PAs in the under-protected southwestern region and to mitigate critical sampling gaps through targeted data digitization and field surveys.These measures are indispensable for securing Tajikistan’s unique biodiversity and achieving the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Target 3(“30×30 Protection”).展开更多
QTLs for plant height and its components on the substituted segments of fifty-two single segment substitution lines （SSSLs） in rice were identified through t-test （P〈0.001） for comparison between each SSSL and re...QTLs for plant height and its components on the substituted segments of fifty-two single segment substitution lines （SSSLs） in rice were identified through t-test （P〈0.001） for comparison between each SSSL and recipient parent Huajingxian 74. On the 14 substituted segments, 24 QTLs were detected, 10 for plant height, 2 for panicle length, 4 for length of the first internode from the top, 5 for length of the second internode from the top and 3 for length of the third internode from the top, respectively. All these QTLs were distributed on nine rice chromosomes except chromosomes 5, 9 and 11. The additive effect ranged from -4.08 to 3.98 cm, and the additive effect percentages varied from -19.35% to 10.43%.展开更多
Abiotic stresses including drought,salinity,heat,cold,flooding,and ultraviolet radiation causes crop losses worldwide.In recent times,preventing these crop losses and producing more food and feed to meet the demands o...Abiotic stresses including drought,salinity,heat,cold,flooding,and ultraviolet radiation causes crop losses worldwide.In recent times,preventing these crop losses and producing more food and feed to meet the demands of ever-increasing human populations have gained unprecedented importance.However,the proportion of agricultural lands facing multiple abiotic stresses is expected only to rise under a changing global climate fueled by anthropogenic activities.Identifying the mechanisms developed and deployed by plants to counteract abiotic stresses and maintain their growth and survival under harsh conditions thus holds great significance.Recent investigations have shown that phytohormones,including the classical auxins,cytokinins,ethylene,and gibberellins,and newer members including brassinosteroids,jasmonates,and strigolactones may prove to be important metabolic engineering targets for producing abiotic stress-tolerant crop plants.In this review,we summarize and critically assess the roles that phytohormones play in plant growth and development and abiotic stress tolerance,besides their engineering for conferring abiotic stress tolerance in transgenic crops.We also describe recent successes in identifying the roles of phytohormones under stressful conditions.We conclude by describing the recent progress and future prospects including limitations and challenges of phytohormone engineering for inducing abiotic stress tolerance in crop plants.展开更多
Metal ions are essential for plant growth and development,but in excess,these compounds can become highly toxic.Plants have adopted numerous ways to maintain metal homeostasis while mitigating adverse effects of exces...Metal ions are essential for plant growth and development,but in excess,these compounds can become highly toxic.Plants have adopted numerous ways to maintain metal homeostasis while mitigating adverse effects of excess metal ions,including phytochelatin and the metal-chelating proteins metallothioneins(MTs).A family of cysteine(Cys)-rich,intracellular,and low-molecular-weight(4-8 kDa)MTs are proteins found in nearly all phyla including plants,animals,and fungi,and they have the potential to scavenge reactive oxygen species and detoxify toxic metals including copper,cadmium,and zinc.Based on their Cys numbers and residues,MTs have been categorized into three major classes.Class I MTs,which have highly conserved Cys residues,are found in animals,while class II MTs,with less conserved Cys residues,are present in plants and are classified further into four groups.Class III MTs include phytochelatins,a group of enzymatically synthesized Cys-rich proteins.The MTs have been an area of interest for five decades with extensive studies,which have been facilitated by advancements in instrumental techniques,protein science,and molecular biology tools.Here,we reviewed current advances in our understanding of the regulation of MT biosynthesis,their expression,and their potential roles in the alleviation of abiotic stresses(i.e.,drought,salinity,and oxidative stresses)and heavy metal detoxification and homeostasis.展开更多
Plants grow in dynamic environments where they receive diverse environmental signals.Swift and precise control of gene expression is essential for plants to align their development and metabolism with fluctuating surr...Plants grow in dynamic environments where they receive diverse environmental signals.Swift and precise control of gene expression is essential for plants to align their development and metabolism with fluctuating surroundings.Modifications on histones serve as histone code" to specify chromatin and gene activities.Different modifications execute distinct functions on the chromatin,promoting either active transcription or gene silencing.Histone writers,erasers,and readers mediate the regulation of histone modifications by catalyzing,removing,and recognizing modifications,respectively.Growing evidence indicates the important function of histone modifications in plant development and environmental responses.Histone modifications also serve as environmental memory for plants to adapt to environmental changes.Here we review recent progress on the regulation of histone modifications in plants,the impact of histone modifications on environment-controlled developmental transitions including germination and flowering,and the role of histone modifications in environmental memory.展开更多
This study identifies the potential role in heat-stress mitigation of phytohormones and other secondary metabolites produced by the endophytic fungus Paecilomyces formosus LWL1 in japonica rice cultivar Dongjin. The j...This study identifies the potential role in heat-stress mitigation of phytohormones and other secondary metabolites produced by the endophytic fungus Paecilomyces formosus LWL1 in japonica rice cultivar Dongjin. The japonica rice was grown in controlled chamber conditions with and without P. formosus LWL1 under no stress （NS） and prolonged heat stress （HS） conditions. Endophytic association under NS and HS conditions significantly improved plant growth attributes, such as plant height, fresh weight, dry weight, and chlorophyll content. Furthermore, P. for- mosus LWL1 protected the rice plants from HS compared with controls, indicated by the lower endogenous level of stress-signaling compounds such as abscisic acid （25.71%） and jasmonic acid （34.57%） and the increase in total protein content （18.76%-33.22%）. Such fungal endophytes may be helpful for sustainable crop production under high environmental temperatures.展开更多
In response to limited availability of soil resources in basal root zone, plant extends its roots into nearby resource-rich zones to fulfill essential resource demands for survival and reproduction. This root prolifer...In response to limited availability of soil resources in basal root zone, plant extends its roots into nearby resource-rich zones to fulfill essential resource demands for survival and reproduction. This root proliferation into that enriched zones occupied by other plants constitutes interplant overlapping rooting zones and thereby the overlapping depletion zones, causing reduction in resource uptake by neighboring plants. By incorporating this mechanism into the classic resource competition model, we study interplant direct competition through their rooting system in an overlapping depletion zone. The model results indicate an extension of Tilman’s R* rule that has already been proved true when plants compete indirectly through their effect on shared resources. The results reveal that plant’s direct competitive ability (i.e., the ability to occupy an overlapping depletion zone by excluding others) can be characterized by its R*-value, where a best competitor having lowest R*-value excludes others from an overlapping zone and occupies the zone by depleting the resource level to the lowest as in its non-overlapping depletion zone. By analyzing the model, we find a suite of traits that confers R* variation among directly competing plants. This suite of traits would be a useful proxy measure for R* that do not necessarily require to establish equilibrium field monoculture—a requirement for R* measurement in the field.展开更多
Cotton producers have substantially reduced their inputs(labor,nutrients,and management)mainly by adopting a shortseason cropping management that is characterized by late sowing,high density,and reduced fertilization ...Cotton producers have substantially reduced their inputs(labor,nutrients,and management)mainly by adopting a shortseason cropping management that is characterized by late sowing,high density,and reduced fertilization with one-time application at the first bloom stage without lint yield reduction.However,it has been hypothesized that one-time fertilization at an earlier growth stage could be a more effective and economic management practice.A two-year field experiment was conducted by applying five fertilizer one-time fertilization at 0(FT1),5(FT2),10(FT3),15(FT4),and 20(FT5)days after the first flower appeared in the field and one three-split fertilizer application taken as the conventional control(FT6),making six treatments altogether.Cotton growth period,biomass accumulation,yield,and its formation were quantified.The results showed that the one-time fertilization did not affect the cotton growth progress as compared to FT6,however,the total crop cycles for FT3–FT5 were 3 days shorter.FT1 produced the highest cotton lint yield(1396 kg ha–1),which was similar to the FT6 but higher than the other treatments,and could be attributed to more bolls per unit area and higher lint percentage.Cotton yield was positively correlated with cotton plant biomass accumulated.FT1 had both the highest average(VT)(193.7 kg ha–1 d–1)and the highest maximum(VM)(220.9 kg ha–1 d–1)rates during the fast biomass accumulation period.These results suggest that one-time fertilizer application at the first flower stage might be an adjustment that is more effective than at first bloom,and allowed for easier decision making for application date due to non counting of plants with flowers is needed.展开更多
The effect of native medical plant “Clammy Inula” (Inula viscosa L.) in combination with a low dose of the fungicide iprodione (Rovral®) against gray mould disease (Botryis cinerea Pers.) was evaluated in vit...The effect of native medical plant “Clammy Inula” (Inula viscosa L.) in combination with a low dose of the fungicide iprodione (Rovral®) against gray mould disease (Botryis cinerea Pers.) was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The results revealed that the plant extract had antifungal effect on mycelial growth rate and conidial germiation of pathogen isolates. The plant extract at the concentration of 1% - 4% and the fungicide iprodione at the concentration of 0.2 - 9 μg·ml-1 significantly reduced the mycelium growth and germination. In addition, the plant extract at the concentration of 2% - 4% and iprodione at the concentration of 300 - 600 μg·ml-1 significantly reduced the disease severity (%) on bean plants compared to the controls. The reduction of mycelium growth, germination, and disease severity was positively correlated with increasing plant extract and fungicide concentrations. The combination of a low dose of plant extract and fungicide at (EC50) was able to reduce disease severity of gray mold by 84%. While, plant extract and fungicide alone reduced disease severity by 46% & 39% and by 70% & 76% for the isolate (Bo5-10 and Bc 99), respectively, compared with controls. The application of water extracts of I. viscose in combination of a low dose of an effective fungicide (iprodione) can be a feasible tool in reducing gray mould disease severity, but farther studies are still needed under field conditions to evaluate efficacy against the disease under field conditions.展开更多
Flowering locus T(FT)is a primary integrator in the regulation of plant flowering.Overexpressing a blueberry(Vaccinium corymbosum L.)FT gene(VcFT)(herein VcFT-OX)resulted in early flowering and dwarfing in‘Aurora’pl...Flowering locus T(FT)is a primary integrator in the regulation of plant flowering.Overexpressing a blueberry(Vaccinium corymbosum L.)FT gene(VcFT)(herein VcFT-OX)resulted in early flowering and dwarfing in‘Aurora’plants(herein‘VcFT-Aurora’).In this study,we found that VcFT-OX reduced shoot regeneration from leaf explants.To investigate the potential roles of the phytohormone pathway genes associated with VcFT-OX,differentially expressed(DE)genes in leaf tissues of‘VcFT-Aurora’plants were annotated and analyzed using non-transgenic‘Aurora’plants as a control.Three DE floral genes,including the blueberry SUPPRESSOR of Overexpression of constans 1(VcSOC1)(gibberellin related),Abscisic acid responsive elements-binding factor 2(VcABF2)and protein related to ABI3/VP1(VcABI3/VP1)(ethylene-related),are present under both the phytohormone-responsive and the dwarfing-related Gene Ontology terms.The gene networks of the DE genes overall showed the molecular basis of the multifunctional aspects of VcFT overexpression beyond flowering promotion and suggested that phytohormone changes could be signaling molecules with important roles in the phenotypic changes driven by VcFT-OX.展开更多
Mountains are an excellent system for evaluating ecological and biogeographical patterns. The obvious variations of the environmental factors along the altitude create different zones with adapted plant assemblages. H...Mountains are an excellent system for evaluating ecological and biogeographical patterns. The obvious variations of the environmental factors along the altitude create different zones with adapted plant assemblages. However, few studies make use of plant functional type(PFT) for describing the variation of vegetation along altitudinal gradients. A PFT is a group of taxa with similar traits which respond similarly to the environmental gradients. In this study, we used PFTs as indicators describing five vegetation zones in the western Alborz Mt, Iran from 2000 – 4500 m. The plant trait data presented here covers six plant traits including growth form, stemleaf ratio, spinescence, hairiness, leaf consistency and plant height of 297 species. We considered altitude and soil factors to test the importance of environmental variables. We applied a multivariate analysis of three table ordination, i.e. environmental, species, and traits data to identify the PFTs. We further applied fourth-corner statistic to quantify trait-environment relationships. A constrained hierarchical clustering was used to detect five altitudinal zones and two zones of low and high nitrogen concentration. With regard to altitude wediscuss the distribution of species, traits and PFTs. Growth form, plant height and stem-leaf ratio were significantly related to altitude and nitrogen. We identified 19 PFTs from which 18 were significantly associated to one or more altitudinal zones. While the lower altitudinal zones contain a variety of PFTs higher altitudes contain less PFTs with the highest altitude containing only one single PFT, tiny rosette plants with soft mesomorphic leaves. We identified grazing and climatic harshness as well as rockiness as the most important drivers of the distribution of plant functional traits and types across the studied gradient.展开更多
Plant hormones are important molecules which at low concentration can regulate various physiological processes.Mass spectrometry has become a powerful technique for the quantification of multiple classes of plant horm...Plant hormones are important molecules which at low concentration can regulate various physiological processes.Mass spectrometry has become a powerful technique for the quantification of multiple classes of plant hormones because of its high sensitivity and selectivity.We developed a new ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography–full-scan high-definition accurate mass spectrometry method,for simultaneous determination of abscisic acid and four metabolites phaseic acid,dihydrophaseic acid,7′-hydroxy-abscisic acid and abscisic acid glucose ester,cytokinins zeatin,zeatin riboside,gibberellins(GA1,GA3,GA4 and GA7)and indole-3-acetyl-L-aspartic acid.We measured the amount of plant hormones in the flesh and skin of two processing potato cvs.Sylvana and Russet Burbank stored for up to 30 weeks at 6°C under ambient air conditions.Herein,we report for the first time that abscisic acid glucose ester seems to accumulate in the skin of potato tubers throughout storage time.The method achieved a lowest limit of detection of 0.22 ng g−1 of dry weight and a limit of quantification of 0.74 ng g−1 dry weight(zeatin riboside),and was able to recover,detect and quantify a total of 12 plant hormones spiked on flesh and skin of potato tubers.In addition,the mass accuracy for all compounds(<5 ppm)was evaluated.展开更多
An inhabitant of north western Himalayan region and a gynodioceious plant having a lot of medicinal properties, Valeriana jatamansi Jones (Valerianaceae) is an enlisted endangered plant in the world. It was introduced...An inhabitant of north western Himalayan region and a gynodioceious plant having a lot of medicinal properties, Valeriana jatamansi Jones (Valerianaceae) is an enlisted endangered plant in the world. It was introduced in the research station of North Bengal Agricultural University (27.06°N 88.47°E) situated in north eastern Himalayan region of Darjeeling district in the state of West Bengal from Sikkim Sangtok (27°25'N 88°31'E) of north Sikkim area in India for the purpose of conservation. As we noticed some irregular development of floral organs, we investigated some pertinent questions regarding ecological aberrations found in plants. We found plants introduced in north eastern Himalayan region changed their homology of number flower petals and position of stamens seen naturally in north western Himalayan region as per the reports. Was there any genetic or extreme environmental stress condition caused a sudden change in floral structure as it is generally known as a rare phenomenon and frequently not seen? What were the correlations of different floral parts and fitness of population in different morphotypes? We predicted possible outcomes of seed setting by univariate regression models in a particular environment in addition to this investigation. We proposed three models of heterozygousity for answering the reasons of unstable floral form from a general known floral form, where silent mutations help the plants to survive in adverse conditions in spite of deformed or variable formed of floral morphology.展开更多
The study of speciation genetics is primarily concerned with identifying the genetic traits that allow divergent selec- tion to overcome the homogenizing effects of gene flow. Felsenstein reviewed this race between ge...The study of speciation genetics is primarily concerned with identifying the genetic traits that allow divergent selec- tion to overcome the homogenizing effects of gene flow. Felsenstein reviewed this race between gene flow and selection, con- cluding that speciation with gene flow was unlikely under a ＂two-allele model＂ （where two traits were necessary for reproductive isolation） but that divergence could occur quite easily under a ＂one-allele model.＂ Despite this finding, much of the sympatric speciation research involving phytophagous insects has relied on a two-trait model, where insects evolve both preferences for and increased performance on novel host plants. Philopatry （a tendency to remain where one was born） is known to occur in phyto- phagous insects and is a single trait isolation mechanism. However, it is traditionally invoked as simply augmenting reproductive isolation. Species in the Enchenopa binotata complex are believed to have speciated in sympatry. They exhibit host plant prefe- rences, host specific performance advantages and strong philopatry. We experimentally shifted E. binotata to evolutionarily novel host plants. Previous research has demonstrated that the experimental population of insects possesses genetic variation in prefe- rence and performance to the novel host. The degree of philopatry at mating and egg-laying was assayed for the first four years under full choice conditions. Host plant preference and performance was assayed after eight years. Philopatry was an immediate and strong isolating mechanism, while preference for and performance on the novel host lagged. We therefore suggest that philo- patry may be a more important mechanism in the early stages of a host shift than previously believed [Current Zoology 59 （5）： 658-666, 2013].展开更多
Membrane trafficking is essential for plant growth and responses to external signals.The plant unique FYVE domain-containing protein FREE1 is a component of the ESCRT complex（endosomal sorting complex required for tr...Membrane trafficking is essential for plant growth and responses to external signals.The plant unique FYVE domain-containing protein FREE1 is a component of the ESCRT complex（endosomal sorting complex required for transport）.FREE1 plays multiple roles in regulating protein trafficking and organelle biogenesis including the formation of intraluminal vesicles of multivesicular body（MVB）,vacuolar protein transport and vacuole biogenesis,and autophagic degradation.FREE1 knockout plants show defective MVB formation,abnormal vacuolar transport,fragmented vacuoles,accumulated autophagosomes,and seedling lethality.To further uncover the underlying mechanisms of FREE1 function in plants,we performed a forward genetic screen for mutants that suppressed the seedling lethal phenotype of FREE1-RNAi transgenic plants.The obtained mutants are termed as suppressors of free1（sof）.To date,229 putative sof mutants have been identified.Barely detecting of FREE1 protein with M3 plants further identified 84 FREE1-related suppressors.Also145 mutants showing no reduction of FREE1 protein were termed as RNAi-related mutants.Through next-generation sequencing（NGS）of bulked DNA from F2 mapping population of two RNAi-related sof mutants,FREE1-RNAi T-DNA inserted on chromosome 1 was identified and the causal mutation of putative sof mutant is being identified similarly.These FREE1-and RNAi-related sof mutants will be useful tools and resources for illustrating the underlying mechanisms of FREE1 function in intracellular trafficking and organelle biogenesis,as well as for uncovering the new components involved in the regulation of silencing pathways in plants.展开更多
基金funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant no.32301870 to Chen Lin)Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(grant no.BK20230568 to Chen Lin)+3 种基金the Jiangsu Provincial Agricultural Science and Technology Independent Innovation Fund(grant no.CX(24)3124 to Chen Lin)Outstanding Ph.D.Programin Yangzhou(grant no.YZLYJFJH2022YXBS147 to Chen Lin)the General Project of Basic Scientific Research to colleges and universities in Jiangsu Province(grant no.22KJB210019 toChen Lin)the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions is greatly acknowledged.
文摘Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) represent a large and diverse enzyme family ubiquitously distributed across the plant kingdom. These proteins catalyze the conjugation of glutathione (GSH) with electrophilic substrates in response to various stress conditions. Beyond their role in stress adaptation, certain GSTs are integral regulators of plant growth and development, contributing to a range of physiological processes. Most GST proteins exhibit dual enzymatic activities, functioning as both transferases and peroxidases, which enables their involvement in diverse cellular processes, including detoxification and stress responses. Recent advancements, particularly in X-ray crystallography, have enabled detailed structural analysis of GST proteins, significantly enhancing our understanding of their biological functions. This review offers a comprehensive overview of the classification and structural characteristics of GSTs in plants. It also highlights recent findings on their roles in plant growth and development, cell signaling, catalytic transport, and stress tolerance. Furthermore, key scientific challenges related to GSTs are discussed, focusing on their potential applications in agriculture. These insights aim to facilitate the screening of functional GST genes and support molecular breeding efforts across diverse crop species.
基金supported by an MCIN RyC Programme MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033the‘European Union Next Generation EU/PRTR’under grant no.RYC2021-032345-I+1 种基金supported by the AEI(grant no.PID2019-107463RJ-I00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033)the Regional Research and Development Programme of the Government of Navarre(call 2019,project NitroHealthy,PC068).
文摘Ammonium toxicity in plants remains poorly understood despite extensive research.While nitrate is known to benefit plant growth,the synergistic effects of nitrate in mitigating ammonium toxicity,even at low concentrations,are not fully elucidated.This review delves into the physiological and molecular nature of this phenomenon.To date,nitrate-dependent alleviation of ammonium toxicity is the result of cumulative consequences of the role of nitrate as a nutrient and signal in plant performance.The ability to counteract the ammonium-induced acidification through nitrate uptake and metabolism,the enhancement of potassium uptake as an essential nitrate counterion,and the nitratedependent signaling of key factors involved in ammonium assimilation,ROS scavenging,and growth hormone biosynthesis,are the most relevant hallmarks.In addition,evidence suggests that the availability of nitrate and ammonium has driven ecological selection in plants,determining current N preferences,and may have led to the selection of nitrate-dependent and ammonium-sensitive domesticated crops and the inefficient use of N fertilizers in agriculture.As ammonium toxicity limits N fertilization options and reduces agricultural yields,when it could be a more sustainable and cheaper alternative to nitrate,this review provides a better understanding of how plants use nitrate to counteract the problematic aspects of ammonium nutrition.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2025YFE0103800,2023YFE0102600,2024YFE0214200).
文摘Livestock farming is a critical pillar of Tajikistan’s national economy and livelihood security.However,significant economic challenges in the country have led to the degradation of grassland ecosystems.This degradation has not only reduced the productivity of grassland ecosystems but also severely impacted their ecological functions.A particularly concerning consequence is the threat to biodiversity,as the survival and persistence of endemic,rare,and endangered plant species are at serious risk,thereby diminishing the value of species’genetic resources.Based on the data from multiple sources such as literature reviews,field observations,and national statistics,this study employed a systematic literature review and meta-analysis to investigate the current status,causes of degradation,and restoration measures for grassland ecosystems in Tajikistan.The results revealed that Tajikistan’s grassland ecosystems support exceptionally high plant species diversity,comprising over 4500 vascular plant species,including nearly 1500 endemic and sub-endemic taxa that constitute a unique genetic reservoir.These ecosystems are experiencing severe degradation,characterized by significantly reduced vegetation cover and declining species richness.Palatable forage species are increasingly being displaced by unpalatable,thorny,and poisonous species.The primary drivers of degradation include excessive grazing pressure,which disrupts plant reproductive cycles and regeneration capacity,habitat fragmentation due to urbanization and infrastructure development,and uncontrolled exploitation of medicinal and edible plants.Climate change,particularly rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns,further exacerbates these anthropogenic pressures.Ecological restoration experiments suggested that both ecosystem productivity and plant species diversity are significantly enhanced by systematic reseeding trials using altitude-adapted native species.These findings underscore the necessity of establishing scientifically grounded approaches for ecological restoration.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)(No.42107299).
文摘To better understand the effects of ground-level ozone(O_(3))on nutrients and stoichiometry in different plant organs,urban tree species Celtis sinensis,Cyclocarya paliu-rus,Quercus acutissima,and Quercus nuttallii were sub-jected to a constant exposure to charcoal-filtered air(CF),nonfiltered air(NF),or NF+40,60,or 80 nmol O_(3)mol^(-1)(NF40,NF60,and NF80)starting early in the summer of the growing season.At the end of summer,net CO_(2)assimila-tion rate(A),stomatal conductance(gs),leaf mass per area(LMA),and/or leaf greenness(SPAD)either were not sig-nificantly affected by elevated O_(3)or were even higher in some cases during the summer compared with the CF or NF controls.LMA was significantly lower in autumn only after the highest O_(3)exposures.Compared to NF,NF40 caused a large increase in gs across species in late summer and more K and Mn in stems.At the end of the growing season,nutri-ent status and stoichiometric ratios in different organs were variously altered under O_(3)stress;many changes were large and often species-specific.Across O_(3)treatments,LMA was primarily associated with C and Mg levels in leaves and Ca levels in leaves and stems.NF40 enriched K,P,Fe,and Mn in stems,relative to NF,and NF60 enhanced Ca in leaves relative to CF and NF40.Moreover,NF resulted in a higher Ca/Mg ratio in leaves of Q.acutissima only,relative to the other O_(3)regimes.Interestingly,across species,O_(3)stress led to different nutrient modifications in different organs(stems+branches vs leaves).Thus,ambient and/or elevated O_(3)exposures can alter the dynamics and distribution of nutrients and disrupt stoichiometry in different organs in a species-specific manner.Changes in stoichiometry reflect an important defense mechanism in plants under O_(3),and O_(3)pollution adds more risk to ecological stoichiometries in urban areas.
文摘Publisher Correction to:Journal of Forestry Research(2025)36:29 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-025-01823-0 In Fig.4c of this article,the lower part of the figure was unintentionally cropped and incomplete during the publisher's production process.The published incorrect version and the corrected version of Fig.4 are given below.
基金the Chinese Academy of Sciences Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia(RCEECA),the construction and joint research for the China-Tajikistan“Belt and Road”Joint Laboratory on Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use(2024YFE0214200)the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Partnership and International Technology Cooperation Plan of Science and Technology Projects(2023E01018,2025E01056)the Chinese Academy of Sciences President’s International Fellowship Initiative(PIFI)(2024VBC0006).
文摘Tajikistan represents a core region of the biodiversity hotspot in Central Asian mountains and has exceptional vascular plant diversity.However,the species diversity of the country faces urgent conservation challenges.There has been a lack of a comprehensive and multidimensional assessment to inform strategic conservation planning.Therefore,this study integrated 4 key biodiversity indices including species richness(SR),phylogenetic diversity(PD),threatened species richness(TSR),and endemic species richness(ESR)to map species diversity distribution patterns,identify conservation gaps,and elucidate their effects of climatic factors.This study revealed that species diversity shows a clear trend of decreasing from the western region to the eastern region of Tajikistan.The central–western mountains(specifically the Gissar-Darvasian and Zeravshanian regions)emerge as irreplaceable biodiversity hotspots.However,we found a severe spatial mismatch between these priority areas and the existing protected areas(PAs).Protection coverage for all hotspots was alarmingly low,ranging from 31.00%to 38.00%.Consequently,a critical 64.80%of integrated priority areas fall outside of the current PAs,representing a major conservation gap.This study identified precipitation seasonality and isothermality as the principal drivers,collectively explaining over 50.00%of the diversity variation and suggesting high vulnerability to hydrological shifts.Furthermore,we detected significant geographic sampling bias in the public biodiversity databases,with the most critical hotspot being systematically under-sampled.This study provides a robust scientific basis for conservation action,highlighting the urgent need to strategically expand PAs in the under-protected southwestern region and to mitigate critical sampling gaps through targeted data digitization and field surveys.These measures are indispensable for securing Tajikistan’s unique biodiversity and achieving the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Target 3(“30×30 Protection”).
基金the key project ofNational Natural Science Foundation of China(30330370) the team project of Natural ScienceFoundation of Guangdong Province (20003023).
文摘QTLs for plant height and its components on the substituted segments of fifty-two single segment substitution lines （SSSLs） in rice were identified through t-test （P〈0.001） for comparison between each SSSL and recipient parent Huajingxian 74. On the 14 substituted segments, 24 QTLs were detected, 10 for plant height, 2 for panicle length, 4 for length of the first internode from the top, 5 for length of the second internode from the top and 3 for length of the third internode from the top, respectively. All these QTLs were distributed on nine rice chromosomes except chromosomes 5, 9 and 11. The additive effect ranged from -4.08 to 3.98 cm, and the additive effect percentages varied from -19.35% to 10.43%.
文摘Abiotic stresses including drought,salinity,heat,cold,flooding,and ultraviolet radiation causes crop losses worldwide.In recent times,preventing these crop losses and producing more food and feed to meet the demands of ever-increasing human populations have gained unprecedented importance.However,the proportion of agricultural lands facing multiple abiotic stresses is expected only to rise under a changing global climate fueled by anthropogenic activities.Identifying the mechanisms developed and deployed by plants to counteract abiotic stresses and maintain their growth and survival under harsh conditions thus holds great significance.Recent investigations have shown that phytohormones,including the classical auxins,cytokinins,ethylene,and gibberellins,and newer members including brassinosteroids,jasmonates,and strigolactones may prove to be important metabolic engineering targets for producing abiotic stress-tolerant crop plants.In this review,we summarize and critically assess the roles that phytohormones play in plant growth and development and abiotic stress tolerance,besides their engineering for conferring abiotic stress tolerance in transgenic crops.We also describe recent successes in identifying the roles of phytohormones under stressful conditions.We conclude by describing the recent progress and future prospects including limitations and challenges of phytohormone engineering for inducing abiotic stress tolerance in crop plants.
基金This research was supported by the National Key R&D Programe of China(No.2018 YFA 0900600).
文摘Metal ions are essential for plant growth and development,but in excess,these compounds can become highly toxic.Plants have adopted numerous ways to maintain metal homeostasis while mitigating adverse effects of excess metal ions,including phytochelatin and the metal-chelating proteins metallothioneins(MTs).A family of cysteine(Cys)-rich,intracellular,and low-molecular-weight(4-8 kDa)MTs are proteins found in nearly all phyla including plants,animals,and fungi,and they have the potential to scavenge reactive oxygen species and detoxify toxic metals including copper,cadmium,and zinc.Based on their Cys numbers and residues,MTs have been categorized into three major classes.Class I MTs,which have highly conserved Cys residues,are found in animals,while class II MTs,with less conserved Cys residues,are present in plants and are classified further into four groups.Class III MTs include phytochelatins,a group of enzymatically synthesized Cys-rich proteins.The MTs have been an area of interest for five decades with extensive studies,which have been facilitated by advancements in instrumental techniques,protein science,and molecular biology tools.Here,we reviewed current advances in our understanding of the regulation of MT biosynthesis,their expression,and their potential roles in the alleviation of abiotic stresses(i.e.,drought,salinity,and oxidative stresses)and heavy metal detoxification and homeostasis.
基金supported by the startup funding from State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics and Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology,Chinese Academy of Sciences
文摘Plants grow in dynamic environments where they receive diverse environmental signals.Swift and precise control of gene expression is essential for plants to align their development and metabolism with fluctuating surroundings.Modifications on histones serve as histone code" to specify chromatin and gene activities.Different modifications execute distinct functions on the chromatin,promoting either active transcription or gene silencing.Histone writers,erasers,and readers mediate the regulation of histone modifications by catalyzing,removing,and recognizing modifications,respectively.Growing evidence indicates the important function of histone modifications in plant development and environmental responses.Histone modifications also serve as environmental memory for plants to adapt to environmental changes.Here we review recent progress on the regulation of histone modifications in plants,the impact of histone modifications on environment-controlled developmental transitions including germination and flowering,and the role of histone modifications in environmental memory.
基金supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF)Ministry of Science,ICT and Future-Planning through Basic-Science Research Program(No.2014R1A1A2A10058022)
文摘This study identifies the potential role in heat-stress mitigation of phytohormones and other secondary metabolites produced by the endophytic fungus Paecilomyces formosus LWL1 in japonica rice cultivar Dongjin. The japonica rice was grown in controlled chamber conditions with and without P. formosus LWL1 under no stress （NS） and prolonged heat stress （HS） conditions. Endophytic association under NS and HS conditions significantly improved plant growth attributes, such as plant height, fresh weight, dry weight, and chlorophyll content. Furthermore, P. for- mosus LWL1 protected the rice plants from HS compared with controls, indicated by the lower endogenous level of stress-signaling compounds such as abscisic acid （25.71%） and jasmonic acid （34.57%） and the increase in total protein content （18.76%-33.22%）. Such fungal endophytes may be helpful for sustainable crop production under high environmental temperatures.
基金supported by the U.S.National Science Foundation’s Biocomplexity Program (DEB-0421530)LTER Program (DEB0620482)
文摘In response to limited availability of soil resources in basal root zone, plant extends its roots into nearby resource-rich zones to fulfill essential resource demands for survival and reproduction. This root proliferation into that enriched zones occupied by other plants constitutes interplant overlapping rooting zones and thereby the overlapping depletion zones, causing reduction in resource uptake by neighboring plants. By incorporating this mechanism into the classic resource competition model, we study interplant direct competition through their rooting system in an overlapping depletion zone. The model results indicate an extension of Tilman’s R* rule that has already been proved true when plants compete indirectly through their effect on shared resources. The results reveal that plant’s direct competitive ability (i.e., the ability to occupy an overlapping depletion zone by excluding others) can be characterized by its R*-value, where a best competitor having lowest R*-value excludes others from an overlapping zone and occupies the zone by depleting the resource level to the lowest as in its non-overlapping depletion zone. By analyzing the model, we find a suite of traits that confers R* variation among directly competing plants. This suite of traits would be a useful proxy measure for R* that do not necessarily require to establish equilibrium field monoculture—a requirement for R* measurement in the field.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31271665)the Pairing Program of Key Laboratory of Oasis Ecology Agriculture, Xinjiang Production and Construction Group with Eminent Scholars in Elite Universities, China (201601)
文摘Cotton producers have substantially reduced their inputs(labor,nutrients,and management)mainly by adopting a shortseason cropping management that is characterized by late sowing,high density,and reduced fertilization with one-time application at the first bloom stage without lint yield reduction.However,it has been hypothesized that one-time fertilization at an earlier growth stage could be a more effective and economic management practice.A two-year field experiment was conducted by applying five fertilizer one-time fertilization at 0(FT1),5(FT2),10(FT3),15(FT4),and 20(FT5)days after the first flower appeared in the field and one three-split fertilizer application taken as the conventional control(FT6),making six treatments altogether.Cotton growth period,biomass accumulation,yield,and its formation were quantified.The results showed that the one-time fertilization did not affect the cotton growth progress as compared to FT6,however,the total crop cycles for FT3–FT5 were 3 days shorter.FT1 produced the highest cotton lint yield(1396 kg ha–1),which was similar to the FT6 but higher than the other treatments,and could be attributed to more bolls per unit area and higher lint percentage.Cotton yield was positively correlated with cotton plant biomass accumulated.FT1 had both the highest average(VT)(193.7 kg ha–1 d–1)and the highest maximum(VM)(220.9 kg ha–1 d–1)rates during the fast biomass accumulation period.These results suggest that one-time fertilizer application at the first flower stage might be an adjustment that is more effective than at first bloom,and allowed for easier decision making for application date due to non counting of plants with flowers is needed.
文摘The effect of native medical plant “Clammy Inula” (Inula viscosa L.) in combination with a low dose of the fungicide iprodione (Rovral®) against gray mould disease (Botryis cinerea Pers.) was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The results revealed that the plant extract had antifungal effect on mycelial growth rate and conidial germiation of pathogen isolates. The plant extract at the concentration of 1% - 4% and the fungicide iprodione at the concentration of 0.2 - 9 μg·ml-1 significantly reduced the mycelium growth and germination. In addition, the plant extract at the concentration of 2% - 4% and iprodione at the concentration of 300 - 600 μg·ml-1 significantly reduced the disease severity (%) on bean plants compared to the controls. The reduction of mycelium growth, germination, and disease severity was positively correlated with increasing plant extract and fungicide concentrations. The combination of a low dose of plant extract and fungicide at (EC50) was able to reduce disease severity of gray mold by 84%. While, plant extract and fungicide alone reduced disease severity by 46% & 39% and by 70% & 76% for the isolate (Bo5-10 and Bc 99), respectively, compared with controls. The application of water extracts of I. viscose in combination of a low dose of an effective fungicide (iprodione) can be a feasible tool in reducing gray mould disease severity, but farther studies are still needed under field conditions to evaluate efficacy against the disease under field conditions.
文摘Flowering locus T(FT)is a primary integrator in the regulation of plant flowering.Overexpressing a blueberry(Vaccinium corymbosum L.)FT gene(VcFT)(herein VcFT-OX)resulted in early flowering and dwarfing in‘Aurora’plants(herein‘VcFT-Aurora’).In this study,we found that VcFT-OX reduced shoot regeneration from leaf explants.To investigate the potential roles of the phytohormone pathway genes associated with VcFT-OX,differentially expressed(DE)genes in leaf tissues of‘VcFT-Aurora’plants were annotated and analyzed using non-transgenic‘Aurora’plants as a control.Three DE floral genes,including the blueberry SUPPRESSOR of Overexpression of constans 1(VcSOC1)(gibberellin related),Abscisic acid responsive elements-binding factor 2(VcABF2)and protein related to ABI3/VP1(VcABI3/VP1)(ethylene-related),are present under both the phytohormone-responsive and the dwarfing-related Gene Ontology terms.The gene networks of the DE genes overall showed the molecular basis of the multifunctional aspects of VcFT overexpression beyond flowering promotion and suggested that phytohormone changes could be signaling molecules with important roles in the phenotypic changes driven by VcFT-OX.
基金the DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst) for a grant to H.M. (57214227)
文摘Mountains are an excellent system for evaluating ecological and biogeographical patterns. The obvious variations of the environmental factors along the altitude create different zones with adapted plant assemblages. However, few studies make use of plant functional type(PFT) for describing the variation of vegetation along altitudinal gradients. A PFT is a group of taxa with similar traits which respond similarly to the environmental gradients. In this study, we used PFTs as indicators describing five vegetation zones in the western Alborz Mt, Iran from 2000 – 4500 m. The plant trait data presented here covers six plant traits including growth form, stemleaf ratio, spinescence, hairiness, leaf consistency and plant height of 297 species. We considered altitude and soil factors to test the importance of environmental variables. We applied a multivariate analysis of three table ordination, i.e. environmental, species, and traits data to identify the PFTs. We further applied fourth-corner statistic to quantify trait-environment relationships. A constrained hierarchical clustering was used to detect five altitudinal zones and two zones of low and high nitrogen concentration. With regard to altitude wediscuss the distribution of species, traits and PFTs. Growth form, plant height and stem-leaf ratio were significantly related to altitude and nitrogen. We identified 19 PFTs from which 18 were significantly associated to one or more altitudinal zones. While the lower altitudinal zones contain a variety of PFTs higher altitudes contain less PFTs with the highest altitude containing only one single PFT, tiny rosette plants with soft mesomorphic leaves. We identified grazing and climatic harshness as well as rockiness as the most important drivers of the distribution of plant functional traits and types across the studied gradient.
基金The authors would like to thanks the Potato Council Ltd.for partial financial support of this research(Project R412)。
文摘Plant hormones are important molecules which at low concentration can regulate various physiological processes.Mass spectrometry has become a powerful technique for the quantification of multiple classes of plant hormones because of its high sensitivity and selectivity.We developed a new ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography–full-scan high-definition accurate mass spectrometry method,for simultaneous determination of abscisic acid and four metabolites phaseic acid,dihydrophaseic acid,7′-hydroxy-abscisic acid and abscisic acid glucose ester,cytokinins zeatin,zeatin riboside,gibberellins(GA1,GA3,GA4 and GA7)and indole-3-acetyl-L-aspartic acid.We measured the amount of plant hormones in the flesh and skin of two processing potato cvs.Sylvana and Russet Burbank stored for up to 30 weeks at 6°C under ambient air conditions.Herein,we report for the first time that abscisic acid glucose ester seems to accumulate in the skin of potato tubers throughout storage time.The method achieved a lowest limit of detection of 0.22 ng g−1 of dry weight and a limit of quantification of 0.74 ng g−1 dry weight(zeatin riboside),and was able to recover,detect and quantify a total of 12 plant hormones spiked on flesh and skin of potato tubers.In addition,the mass accuracy for all compounds(<5 ppm)was evaluated.
文摘An inhabitant of north western Himalayan region and a gynodioceious plant having a lot of medicinal properties, Valeriana jatamansi Jones (Valerianaceae) is an enlisted endangered plant in the world. It was introduced in the research station of North Bengal Agricultural University (27.06°N 88.47°E) situated in north eastern Himalayan region of Darjeeling district in the state of West Bengal from Sikkim Sangtok (27°25'N 88°31'E) of north Sikkim area in India for the purpose of conservation. As we noticed some irregular development of floral organs, we investigated some pertinent questions regarding ecological aberrations found in plants. We found plants introduced in north eastern Himalayan region changed their homology of number flower petals and position of stamens seen naturally in north western Himalayan region as per the reports. Was there any genetic or extreme environmental stress condition caused a sudden change in floral structure as it is generally known as a rare phenomenon and frequently not seen? What were the correlations of different floral parts and fitness of population in different morphotypes? We predicted possible outcomes of seed setting by univariate regression models in a particular environment in addition to this investigation. We proposed three models of heterozygousity for answering the reasons of unstable floral form from a general known floral form, where silent mutations help the plants to survive in adverse conditions in spite of deformed or variable formed of floral morphology.
文摘The study of speciation genetics is primarily concerned with identifying the genetic traits that allow divergent selec- tion to overcome the homogenizing effects of gene flow. Felsenstein reviewed this race between gene flow and selection, con- cluding that speciation with gene flow was unlikely under a ＂two-allele model＂ （where two traits were necessary for reproductive isolation） but that divergence could occur quite easily under a ＂one-allele model.＂ Despite this finding, much of the sympatric speciation research involving phytophagous insects has relied on a two-trait model, where insects evolve both preferences for and increased performance on novel host plants. Philopatry （a tendency to remain where one was born） is known to occur in phyto- phagous insects and is a single trait isolation mechanism. However, it is traditionally invoked as simply augmenting reproductive isolation. Species in the Enchenopa binotata complex are believed to have speciated in sympatry. They exhibit host plant prefe- rences, host specific performance advantages and strong philopatry. We experimentally shifted E. binotata to evolutionarily novel host plants. Previous research has demonstrated that the experimental population of insects possesses genetic variation in prefe- rence and performance to the novel host. The degree of philopatry at mating and egg-laying was assayed for the first four years under full choice conditions. Host plant preference and performance was assayed after eight years. Philopatry was an immediate and strong isolating mechanism, while preference for and performance on the novel host lagged. We therefore suggest that philo- patry may be a more important mechanism in the early stages of a host shift than previously believed [Current Zoology 59 （5）： 658-666, 2013].
基金supported by grants from the NIH GM114660 to Y.Zhaothe Research Grants Council of Hong Kong (CUHK466011,465112,466613,CUHK2/CRF/11G,C401114R and Ao E/M-05/12)+2 种基金NSFC/RGC (N_CUHK406/12)NSFC (31270226 and 31470294)Shenzhen Peacock Project (KQTD201101) to L.Jiang
文摘Membrane trafficking is essential for plant growth and responses to external signals.The plant unique FYVE domain-containing protein FREE1 is a component of the ESCRT complex（endosomal sorting complex required for transport）.FREE1 plays multiple roles in regulating protein trafficking and organelle biogenesis including the formation of intraluminal vesicles of multivesicular body（MVB）,vacuolar protein transport and vacuole biogenesis,and autophagic degradation.FREE1 knockout plants show defective MVB formation,abnormal vacuolar transport,fragmented vacuoles,accumulated autophagosomes,and seedling lethality.To further uncover the underlying mechanisms of FREE1 function in plants,we performed a forward genetic screen for mutants that suppressed the seedling lethal phenotype of FREE1-RNAi transgenic plants.The obtained mutants are termed as suppressors of free1（sof）.To date,229 putative sof mutants have been identified.Barely detecting of FREE1 protein with M3 plants further identified 84 FREE1-related suppressors.Also145 mutants showing no reduction of FREE1 protein were termed as RNAi-related mutants.Through next-generation sequencing（NGS）of bulked DNA from F2 mapping population of two RNAi-related sof mutants,FREE1-RNAi T-DNA inserted on chromosome 1 was identified and the causal mutation of putative sof mutant is being identified similarly.These FREE1-and RNAi-related sof mutants will be useful tools and resources for illustrating the underlying mechanisms of FREE1 function in intracellular trafficking and organelle biogenesis,as well as for uncovering the new components involved in the regulation of silencing pathways in plants.
