China’s food security has always been the top priority in China. As the huge increase of animal food consumption, the current agriculture system in China namely “grain farming”, whose major animal feed are grains, ...China’s food security has always been the top priority in China. As the huge increase of animal food consumption, the current agriculture system in China namely “grain farming”, whose major animal feed are grains, seems to meet a great challenge to ensure China’s food security in the future. Not only the current situation, but also the production capacity as developing grassland agriculture is analyzed in this paper. The results show that half of provinces don’t have enough grain to meet their various needs for grain, and the whole country’s potential of grain yield is reaching a limited position. On the other hand, implementing cereal-forage rotation on 20% of the total arable land and developing high productivity sown pastures on 3% of the total rangeland areas could create approximately 1.2 times Arable Land Equivalent Unit (ALEU) than ever. So changing the traditional agriculture system into Grassland Agro-Ecosystems is an effective way to insure China’s food security. It includes utilization of rangeland rationally, establishment of more sown pasture and implementation of cereal-pasture rotation system, increase livestock production, and use of arable land more efficiently.展开更多
Two strains of Fe/Mn oxidizing bacteria tolerant to high concentrations of multiple heavy metal(loid)s and efficient decontamination for them were screened.The surface of the bio-Fe/Mn oxides produced by the oxidation...Two strains of Fe/Mn oxidizing bacteria tolerant to high concentrations of multiple heavy metal(loid)s and efficient decontamination for them were screened.The surface of the bio-Fe/Mn oxides produced by the oxidation of Fe(II)and Mn(II)by Pseudomonas taiwanensis(marked as P4)and Pseudomonas plecoglossicida(marked as G1)contains rich reactive oxygen functional groups,which play critical roles in the removal efficiency and immobilization of heavymetal(loid)s in co-contamination system.The isolated strains P4 and G1 can growwell in the following environments:pH 5-9,NaCl 0-4%,and temperature 20-30℃.The removal efficiencies of Fe,Pb,As,Zn,Cd,Cu,and Mn are effective after inoculation of the strains P4 and G1 in the simulated water system(the initial concentrations of heavy metal(loid)were 1 mg/L),approximately reaching 96%,92%,85%,67%,70%,54%and 15%,respectively.The exchangeable and carbonate bound As,Cd,Pb and Cu are more inclined to convert to the Fe-Mn oxide bound fractions in P4 and G1 treated soil,thereby reducing the phytoavailability and bioaccessible of heavy metal(loid)s.This research provides alternatives method to treat water and soil containing high concentrations of multi-heavy metal(loid)s.展开更多
Yaks are well-adapted to the harsh environment of the Tibetan Plateau,and they emit less enteric methane(CH_(4))and digest poor-quality forage better than cattle.To examine the potential of yak rumen inoculum to mitig...Yaks are well-adapted to the harsh environment of the Tibetan Plateau,and they emit less enteric methane(CH_(4))and digest poor-quality forage better than cattle.To examine the potential of yak rumen inoculum to mitigate CH_(4)production and improve digestibility in cattle,we incubated substrate with rumen inoculum from yak(YRI)and cattle(CRI)in vitro in five ratios(YRI:CRI):(1)0:100(control),(2)25:75,(3)50:50,(4)75:25 and(5)100:0 for 72 h.The YRI:CRI ratios of 50:50,75:25 and 100:0 produced less total gas and CH_(4)and accumulated less hydrogen(H_(2))than0:100(control)at most time points.From 12 h onwards,there was a linear decrease(P<0.05)in carbon dioxide(CO_(2))production with increasing YRI:CRI ratio.At 72 h,the ratios of 50:50 and 75:25 had higher dry matter(+7.71%and+4.11%,respectively),as well as higher acid detergent fiber digestibility(+15.5%and+7.61%,respectively),when compared to the 0:100 ratio(P<0.05).Increasing the proportion of YRI generally increased total VFA concentrations,and,concomitantly,decreased the proportion of metabolic hydrogen([2H])incorporated into CH_(4),and decreased the recovery of[2H].The lower[2H]recovery indicates unknown[2H]sinks in the culture.Estimated Gibbs free energy changes(ΔG)for reductive acetogenesis were negative,indicating the thermodynamic feasibility of this process.It would be beneficial to identify:1)the alternative[2H]sinks,which could help mitigate CH_(4)emission,and 2)core microbes involved in fiber digestion.This experiment supported lower CH_(4)emission and greater nutrient digestibility of yaks compared to cattle.Multi-omics combined with microbial culture technologies developed in recent years could help to better understand fermentation differences among species.展开更多
Tree growth is extremely vulnerable to climate change,especially in semi-arid areas.Although the response of stem radial growth(SRG)to climate change has been extensively studied,the intra-annual regulatory mechanisms...Tree growth is extremely vulnerable to climate change,especially in semi-arid areas.Although the response of stem radial growth(SRG)to climate change has been extensively studied,the intra-annual regulatory mechanisms of SRG in trees with different water use strategies and life types remain poorly understood.This study calculated the SRG of four native species in the semi-arid area of the Loess Plateau,China,including two isohydric species(Pinus tabuliformis Carrière and Populus×hopeiensis Hu&Chow)and two anisohydric species(Prunus sibirica L.and Platycladus orientalis(L.)Franco).The results revealed that the intra-annual SRG of all the four tree species exhibited a single peak,and greater SRG was found in anisohydric species.Principal component analysis and structural equation model revealed that atmospheric water,particularly relative humidity,was the main factor affecting the SRG of coniferous species(P.tabuliformis and P.orientalis),whereas the SRG was mainly affected by soil water content in broadleaf species(P.sibirica and P.×hopeiensis).These findings suggested that water use strategies and life types play important roles in SRG and environmental response of trees in semi-arid area.Considering the high climate sensitivity of wood formation in trees,our results highlight the importance of water use strategies and life types of trees in SRG prediction in the context of future climate change in arid and semi-arid areas.展开更多
Temperature fluctuations challenge ectothermic species,particularly tropical fish dependent on external temperatures for physiological regulation.However,the molecular mechanisms through which low-temperature stress i...Temperature fluctuations challenge ectothermic species,particularly tropical fish dependent on external temperatures for physiological regulation.However,the molecular mechanisms through which low-temperature stress impacts immune responses in these species,especially in relation to chromatin accessibility and epigenetic regulation,remain poorly understood.In this study,we investigate chromatin and transcriptional changes in the head kidney and thymus tissues of Nile tilapia(Oreochromis niloticus),a tropical fish of significant economic importance,under cold stress.By analyzing cis-regulatory elements in open chromatin regions and their associated transcription factors(TFs),we construct a comprehensive transcriptional regulatory network(TRN)governing immune responses,including DNA damage-induced apoptosis.Our analysis identifies 119 TFs within the TRN,with Stat1 emerging as a central hub exhibiting distinct binding dynamics under cold stress,as revealed by footprint analysis.Overexpression of Stat1 in immune cells leads to apoptosis and increases the expression of apoptosis-related genes,many of which contain Stat1-binding sites in their regulatory regions,emphasizing its critical role in immune cell survival during cold stress.These results provide insights into the transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of immune responses to cold stress in tilapia and highlight Stat1 as a promising target for enhancing cold tolerance in tropical fish species.展开更多
Background Coumarins are toxic phytochemicals found in a variety of plants and are known to limit microbial degradation and interfere with nutrient cycling.While the degradation of coumarins by fungi has been studied ...Background Coumarins are toxic phytochemicals found in a variety of plants and are known to limit microbial degradation and interfere with nutrient cycling.While the degradation of coumarins by fungi has been studied in an environmental context,little is known about their degradation in the gastrointestinal system of herbivores after ingestion.Results In this study,we investigated in vitro fermentation by microbial enrichment,transcriptome sequencing,and high-resolution mass spectrometry to evaluate the ability of rumen anaerobic fungi to degrade coumarins.The results showed that despite the low abundance of anaerobic fungi in the rumen microbiota,they were able to effectively degrade coumarins.Specifically,Pecoramyces ruminantium F1 could tolerate coumarin concentrations up to 3 mmol/L and degrade it efficiently via metabolic pathways involving alpha/beta hydrolases and NAD(P)H oxidoreductases within the late growth phase.The fungus metabolized coumarin to less toxic compounds,including o-coumaric acid and melilotic acid,highlighting the detoxification potential of anaerobic fungi.Conclusions This study is the first to demonstrate the ability of rumen anaerobic fungi to degrade coumarin,providing new insights into the use of anaerobic fungi in sustainable agricultural practices and environmental detoxification strategies.展开更多
Climate change is expected to alter the popu-lation dynamics of pioneer tree species and their planned use in sustainable forest management,but we have a lim-ited understanding of how their demographic rates change in...Climate change is expected to alter the popu-lation dynamics of pioneer tree species and their planned use in sustainable forest management,but we have a lim-ited understanding of how their demographic rates change in response to climate changes during ecological restora-tion.Based on 12 years of demographic data for a pioneer tree species(Pinus massoniana)censused in three plots that correspond to three stages of ecological restoration in south-eastern China.We built integral projection models(IPMs)to assess vital rates(survival,growth,reproduction)and population growth in each plot,then evaluated demographic changes to simulated changes in seasonal mean temperature and precipitation in the current and previous census period.The plot representing the medium restoration stage had the highest population growth rate(λ=0.983).Mean population survival probability increased with ecological restoration,and reproduction probability was significantly suppressed at the high restoration stage.Survival is always the most important vital rate forλ,and climate affectsλprimarily via survival at each restoration stage.The current spring tem-perature was the most critical climate variable forλin the low and medium restoration stages,and previous summer temperature was most critical in the high restoration stage.Simulated warming leads to a decrease in the stochastic population growth rate(λ_(s))of P.massoniana in every stage.These findings suggest that during ecological restoration,P.massoniana responds to habitat change via modified demo-graphic performance,thus altering its response to climate change.Despite diverse responses to climate change,the persistence of P.massoniana populations is facing a wide-spread threat of warming states at each restoration stages.展开更多
Synonymous codon usage pattern presumably reflects gene expression optimization as a result of molecular evolution. Though much attention has been paid to various model organisms ranging from prokaryotes to eukaryotes...Synonymous codon usage pattern presumably reflects gene expression optimization as a result of molecular evolution. Though much attention has been paid to various model organisms ranging from prokaryotes to eukaryotes, codon usage has yet been extensively investigated for model legume Medicago truncatula. In present study, 39 531 available coding sequences （CDSs） from M. truncatula were examined for codon usage bias （CUB）. Based on analyses including neutrality plots, effective number of codons plots, and correlations between optimal codons frequency and codon adaptation index, we conclude that natural selection is a major driving force in M. truncatula CUB. We have identified 30 optimal codons encoding 18 amino acids based on relative synonymous codon usage. These optimal codons characteristically end with A or T, except for AGG and TTG encoding arginine and leucine respectively. Optimal codon usage is positively correlated with the GC content at three nucleotide positions of codons and the GC content of CDSs. The abundance of expressed sequence tag is a proxy for gene expression intensity in the legume, but has no relatedness with either CDS length or GC content. Collectively, we unravel the synonymous codon usage pattern in M. truncatula, which may serve as the valuable information on genetic engineering of the model legume and forage crop.展开更多
Background:Bacillus amyloliquefaciens(BA)and Bacillus subtilis(BS)are usually used as feed supplements directly or bacterial inoculants in biological feeds for animals.However,few research have reported the effects of...Background:Bacillus amyloliquefaciens(BA)and Bacillus subtilis(BS)are usually used as feed supplements directly or bacterial inoculants in biological feeds for animals.However,few research have reported the effects of BA and BS on fermentation characteristics and bacterial community successions of whole-plant corn silage during ensiling.If the BA and BS inoculants have positive effects on silages,then they could not only improve fermentation characteristics,but also deliver BA or BS viable cells to ruminants,which would play its probiotic effect.Therefore,the objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of BA and BS on the fermentation,chemical characteristics,bacterial community and their metabolic pathway of whole-plant corn silage.Results:Freshly chopped whole-plant corn was inoculated without or with BA and BS,respectively,and ensiled for1,3,7,14 and 60 d.Results showed that BA and BS inoculations increased lactic acid concentrations of whole-plant corn silages compared with control,and BA inoculation decreased acetic acid concentrations,whereas BS inoculation decreased fiber contents and increased crude protein(CP)content.Higher water-soluble carbohydrate contents and lower starch contents were observed in BA-and BS-inoculated silages compared with that in control.The decreased CP content and increased non-protein nitrogen content were observed in BA-inoculated silage,which was consistent with the higher amino acid metabolism abundances observed in BA-inoculated silage.In addition,it was noteworthy that BA and BS inoculations increased the metabolism of cofactors and vitamins,and decreased the relative abundances of drug resistance:antimicrobial pathways.We also found that the bacterial metabolism pathways were clearly separated into three clusters based on the ensiling times of whole-plant corn silage in the present study.There were no significant differences in bacterial community compositions among the three groups during ensiling.However,BA and BS inoculations decreased the relative abundances of undesirable bacteria such as Acetobacter and Acinetobacter.Conclusion:Our findings suggested that the BS strain was more suitable as silage inoculants than the BA strain in whole-plant corn silage in this study.展开更多
As a main component in water balance,evapotranspiration(ET)is of great importance for water saving,especially in arid and semi-arid areas.In this study,the FAO(Food and Agriculture Organization)Penman-Monteith model w...As a main component in water balance,evapotranspiration(ET)is of great importance for water saving,especially in arid and semi-arid areas.In this study,the FAO(Food and Agriculture Organization)Penman-Monteith model was used to estimate the magnitude and temporal dynamics of reference evapotranspiration(ET0)in 2014 in subalpine meadows of the Qilian Mountains,Northwest China.Meanwhile,actual ET(ETc)was also investigated by the eddy covariance(EC)system.Results indicated that ETc estimated by the EC System was 583 mm,lower than ET0(923 mm)estimated by the FAO Penman-Monteith model in 2014.Moreover,ET0 began to increase in March and reached the peak value in August and then declined in September,however,ETc began to increase from April and reached the peak value in July,and then declined in August.Total ETc and ET0 values during the growing season(from May to September)were 441 and 666 mm,respectively,which accounted for 75.73%of annual cumulative ETc and 72.34%of annual cumulative ET0,respectively.A crop coefficient(kc)was also estimated for calculating the ETc,and average value of kc during the growing season was 0.81(ranging from 0.45 to 1.16).Air temperature(Ta),wind speed(u),net radiation(Rn)and soil temperature(Ts)at the depth of 5 cm and aboveground biomass were critical factors for affecting kc,furthermore,a daily empirical kc equation including these main driving factors was developed.Our result demonstrated that the ETc value estimated by the data of kc and ET0 was validated and consistent with the growing season data in 2015 and 2016.展开更多
Actinidia chinensis(kiwifruit)is a perennial horticultural crop species of the Actinidiaceae family with high nutritional and economic value.Two versions of the A.chinensis genomes have been previously assembled,based...Actinidia chinensis(kiwifruit)is a perennial horticultural crop species of the Actinidiaceae family with high nutritional and economic value.Two versions of the A.chinensis genomes have been previously assembled,based mainly on relatively short reads.Here,we report an improved chromosome-level reference genome of A.chinensis(v3.0),based mainly on PacBio long reads and Hi-C data.The high-quality assembled genome is 653 Mb long,with 0.76%heterozygosity.At least 43%of the genome consists of repetitive sequences,and the most abundant long terminal repeats were further identified and account for 23.38%of our novel genome.It has clear improvements in contiguity,accuracy,and gene annotation over the two previous versions and contains 40,464 annotated protein-coding genes,of which 94.41%are functionally annotated.Moreover,further analyses of genetic collinearity revealed that the kiwifruit genome has undergone two whole-genome duplications:one affecting all Ericales families near the K-T extinction event and a recent genus-specific duplication.The reference genome presented here will be highly useful for further molecular elucidation of diverse traits and for the breeding of this horticultural crop,as well as evolutionary studies with related taxa.展开更多
Picea crassifolia and P.wilsonii,commonly used for afforestation in northern China,are increasingly likely to be subjected to high temperatures and soil drought stress as a result of global warming.However,little is k...Picea crassifolia and P.wilsonii,commonly used for afforestation in northern China,are increasingly likely to be subjected to high temperatures and soil drought stress as a result of global warming.However,little is known about the effects of these stresses on foliar photosynthesis in the two species.To investigate how photosynthetic characteristics and sensitivity respond to prolonged high temperatures and soil drought,foliar gas exchange and other closely related parameters were recorded from four-year-old seedlings of both species.Seedlings were grown under two temperature treatments(25/15 and 35/25 °C) and four soil water regimes [80,60,40 and 20% of maximum field capacity(FC)] for 4 months.Although all treatments significantly reduced photosynthetic rates(Pn) of both species,P.crassifolia exhibited greater photosynthetic acclimation than P.wilsonii.Differences in photosynthetic acclimation were mainly related to variations in stomatal conductance(Cond) and the maximum quantum yield of PSII(Fv/Fm) between treatments.Indeed,higher Cond and Fv/Fmin all treatments were shown for P.crassifolia than for P.wilsonii.Moreover,photosynthesis in P.crassifolia exhibited inherently lower temperature sensitivities(broader span for the temperature response curves; lower b) and higher thermostability(invariable b between treatments).Further,severe drought stress(20% FC) limited the survival of P.wilsonii.Our results indicate that P.wilsonii is more susceptible to high temperatures and soil drought stress.Planting P.crassifolia would be more expected to survive these conditions and hence be of greater benefit to forest stability if predicted increases in drought and temperature in northern China occur.展开更多
Soil water content is a key limiting factor for vegetation growth in the semi-arid area of Chinese Loess Plateau and precipitation is the main source of soil water content in this area.To further understand the impact...Soil water content is a key limiting factor for vegetation growth in the semi-arid area of Chinese Loess Plateau and precipitation is the main source of soil water content in this area.To further understand the impact of vegetation types and environmental factors such as precipitation on soil water content,we continuously monitored the seasonal dynamics in soil water content in four plots(natural grassland,Caragana korshinskii,Armeniaca sibirica and Pinus tabulaeformis)in Chinese Loess Plateau.The results show that the amplitude of soil water content fluctuation decreases with an increase in soil depth,showing obvious seasonal variations.Soil water content of artificial vegetation was found to be significantly lower than that of natural grassland,and most precipitation events have difficulty replenishing soil water content below a depth of 40 cm.Spring and autumn are the key seasons for replenishment of soil water by precipitation.Changes in soil water content are affected by precipitation,vegetation types,soil evaporation and other factors.The interception effect of vegetation on precipitation and the demand for water consumption by transpiration are the key factors affecting the efficiency of soil water replenishment by precipitation in this area.Due to artificial vegetation plantation in this area,soil will face a water deficit crisis in the future.展开更多
Isatis indigotica(2n=14)is an important medicinal plant in China.Its dried leaves and roots(called Isatidis Folium and Isatidis Radix,respectively)are broadly used in traditional Chinese medicine for curing diseases c...Isatis indigotica(2n=14)is an important medicinal plant in China.Its dried leaves and roots(called Isatidis Folium and Isatidis Radix,respectively)are broadly used in traditional Chinese medicine for curing diseases caused by bacteria and viruses such as influenza and viral pneumonia.Various classes of compounds isolated from this species have been identified as effective ingredients.Previous studies based on transcriptomes revealed only a few candidate genes for the biosynthesis of these active compounds in this medicinal plant.Here,we report a high-quality chromosome-scale genome assembly of I.indigotica with a total size of 293.88 Mb and scaffold N50=36.16 Mb using single-molecule real-time long reads and high-throughput chromosome conformation capture techniques.We annotated 30,323 highconfidence protein-coding genes.Based on homolog searching and functional annotations,we identified many candidate genes involved in the biosynthesis of main active components such as indoles,terpenoids,and phenylpropanoids.In addition,we found that some key enzyme-coding gene families related to the biosynthesis of these components were expanded due to tandem duplications,which likely drove the production of these major active compounds and explained why I.indigotica has excellent antibacterial and antiviral activities.Our results highlighted the importance of genome sequencing in identifying candidate genes for metabolite synthesis in medicinal plants.展开更多
Large-scale patterns of biodiversity and the underlying mechanisms that regulate these patterns are central topics in biogeography and macroecology.The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau serves as a natural laboratory for studying...Large-scale patterns of biodiversity and the underlying mechanisms that regulate these patterns are central topics in biogeography and macroecology.The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau serves as a natural laboratory for studying these issues.However,most previous studies have focused on the entire Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,leaving independent physical geographic subunits in the region less well understood.We studied the current plant diversity of the Kunlun Mountains,an independent physical geographic subunit located in northwestern China on the northern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.We integrated measures of species distribution,geological history,and phylogeography,and analyzed the taxonomic richness,phylogenetic diversity,and community phylogenetic structure of the current plant diversity in the area.The distribution patterns of 1911 seed plants showed that species were distributed mainly in the eastern regions of the Kunlun Mountains.The taxonomic richness,phylogenetic diversity,and genera richness showed that the eastern regions of the Kunlun Mountains should be the priority area of biodiversity conservation,particularly the southeastern regions.The proportion of Chinese endemic species inhabiting the Kunlun Mountains and their floristic similarity may indicate that the current patterns of species diversity were favored via species colonization.The Hengduan Mountains,a biodiversity hotspot,is likely the largest source of species colonization of the Kunlun Mountains after the Quaternary.The net relatedness index indicated that 20 of the 28 communities examined were phylo-genetically dispersed,while the remaining communities were phylogenetically clustered.The nearest taxon index indicated that 27 of the 28 communities were phylogenetically clustered.These results suggest that species colonization and habitat filtering may have contributed to the current plant diversity of the Kunlun Mountains via ecological and evolutionary processes,and habitat filtering may play an important role in this ecological process.展开更多
Stemflow of xerophytic shrubs represents a significant component of water replenishment to the soil-root system and influences water utilization of plant roots at the stand scale,especially in water-scarce semi-arid e...Stemflow of xerophytic shrubs represents a significant component of water replenishment to the soil-root system and influences water utilization of plant roots at the stand scale,especially in water-scarce semi-arid ecosystems.The stemflow of two semi-arid shrubs(Caragana korshinskii and Hippophae rhamnoides)and its effect on soil moisture enhancement were evaluated during the growing season of 2011 in the semi-arid loess region of China.The results indicated that stemflow averaged 12.3%and 8.4%of the bulk precipitation for C.korshinskii and H.rhamnoides,respectively.Individual stemflow increased in a linear function with increasing rainfall depth.The relationship between funneling ratios and rainfall suggested that there existed a rainfall depth threshold of 11 mm for both C.korshinskii and H.rhamnoides.Averaged funneling ratios were 156.6±57.1 and49.5±30.8 for C.korshinskii and H.rhamnoides,respectively,indicating that the canopy architecture of the two shrubs was an effective funnel to channel stemflow to the root area,and C.korshinskii showed a greater potential to use stemflow water in the semi-arid conditions.For individual rainfall events,the wetting front depths were approximately 2 times deeper in the rooting zone around the stems than in the bare area outside canopy for both C.korshinskii and H.rhamnoides.Correspondingly,soil water content was also significantly higher in the root area around the shrub stem than in the area outside the shrub canopy.This confirms that shrub stemflow conserved in the deep soil layers may be an available moisture source for plant growth under semi-arid conditions.展开更多
Background:Large-scale afforestation can significantly change the ground cover and soil physicochemical properties,especially the soil fertility maintenance and water conservation functions of artificial forests,which...Background:Large-scale afforestation can significantly change the ground cover and soil physicochemical properties,especially the soil fertility maintenance and water conservation functions of artificial forests,which are very important in semi-arid mountain ecosystems.However,how different tree species affect soil nutrients and soil physicochemical properties after afforestation,and which is the best plantation species for improving soil fertility and water conservation functions remain largely unknown.Methods:This study investigated the soil nutrient contents of three different plantations(Larix principis-rupprechtii,Picea crassifolia,Pinus tabuliformis),soils and plant-soil feedbacks,as well as the interactions between soil physicochemical properties.Results:The results revealed that the leaves and litter layers strongly influenced soil nutrient availability through biogeochemical processes:P.tabuliformis had higher organic carbon,ratio of organic carbon to total nitrogen(C:N)and organic carbon to total phosphorus(C:P)in the leaves and litter layers than L.principis-rupprechtii or P.crassifolia,suggesting that higher C:N and C:P hindered litter decomposition.As a result,the L.principis-rupprechtii and P.crassifolia plantation forests significantly improved soil nutrients and clay components,compared with the P.tabuliformis plantation forest.Furthermore,the L.principis-rupprechtii and P.crassifolia plantation forests significantly improved the soil capacity,soil total porosity,and capillary porosity,decreased soil bulk density,and enhanced water storage capacity,compared with the P.tabuliformis plantation forest.The results of this study showed that,the strong link between plants and soil was tightly coupled to C:N and C:P,and there was a close correlation between soil particle size distribution and soil physicochemical properties.Conclusions:Therefore,our results recommend planting the L.principis-rupprechtii and P.crassifolia as the preferred tree species to enhance the soil fertility and water conservation functions,especially in semi-arid regions mountain forest ecosystems.展开更多
文摘China’s food security has always been the top priority in China. As the huge increase of animal food consumption, the current agriculture system in China namely “grain farming”, whose major animal feed are grains, seems to meet a great challenge to ensure China’s food security in the future. Not only the current situation, but also the production capacity as developing grassland agriculture is analyzed in this paper. The results show that half of provinces don’t have enough grain to meet their various needs for grain, and the whole country’s potential of grain yield is reaching a limited position. On the other hand, implementing cereal-forage rotation on 20% of the total arable land and developing high productivity sown pastures on 3% of the total rangeland areas could create approximately 1.2 times Arable Land Equivalent Unit (ALEU) than ever. So changing the traditional agriculture system into Grassland Agro-Ecosystems is an effective way to insure China’s food security. It includes utilization of rangeland rationally, establishment of more sown pasture and implementation of cereal-pasture rotation system, increase livestock production, and use of arable land more efficiently.
基金supported d by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2018YFC1802905).
文摘Two strains of Fe/Mn oxidizing bacteria tolerant to high concentrations of multiple heavy metal(loid)s and efficient decontamination for them were screened.The surface of the bio-Fe/Mn oxides produced by the oxidation of Fe(II)and Mn(II)by Pseudomonas taiwanensis(marked as P4)and Pseudomonas plecoglossicida(marked as G1)contains rich reactive oxygen functional groups,which play critical roles in the removal efficiency and immobilization of heavymetal(loid)s in co-contamination system.The isolated strains P4 and G1 can growwell in the following environments:pH 5-9,NaCl 0-4%,and temperature 20-30℃.The removal efficiencies of Fe,Pb,As,Zn,Cd,Cu,and Mn are effective after inoculation of the strains P4 and G1 in the simulated water system(the initial concentrations of heavy metal(loid)were 1 mg/L),approximately reaching 96%,92%,85%,67%,70%,54%and 15%,respectively.The exchangeable and carbonate bound As,Cd,Pb and Cu are more inclined to convert to the Fe-Mn oxide bound fractions in P4 and G1 treated soil,thereby reducing the phytoavailability and bioaccessible of heavy metal(loid)s.This research provides alternatives method to treat water and soil containing high concentrations of multi-heavy metal(loid)s.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32072757 and U21A20250)。
文摘Yaks are well-adapted to the harsh environment of the Tibetan Plateau,and they emit less enteric methane(CH_(4))and digest poor-quality forage better than cattle.To examine the potential of yak rumen inoculum to mitigate CH_(4)production and improve digestibility in cattle,we incubated substrate with rumen inoculum from yak(YRI)and cattle(CRI)in vitro in five ratios(YRI:CRI):(1)0:100(control),(2)25:75,(3)50:50,(4)75:25 and(5)100:0 for 72 h.The YRI:CRI ratios of 50:50,75:25 and 100:0 produced less total gas and CH_(4)and accumulated less hydrogen(H_(2))than0:100(control)at most time points.From 12 h onwards,there was a linear decrease(P<0.05)in carbon dioxide(CO_(2))production with increasing YRI:CRI ratio.At 72 h,the ratios of 50:50 and 75:25 had higher dry matter(+7.71%and+4.11%,respectively),as well as higher acid detergent fiber digestibility(+15.5%and+7.61%,respectively),when compared to the 0:100 ratio(P<0.05).Increasing the proportion of YRI generally increased total VFA concentrations,and,concomitantly,decreased the proportion of metabolic hydrogen([2H])incorporated into CH_(4),and decreased the recovery of[2H].The lower[2H]recovery indicates unknown[2H]sinks in the culture.Estimated Gibbs free energy changes(ΔG)for reductive acetogenesis were negative,indicating the thermodynamic feasibility of this process.It would be beneficial to identify:1)the alternative[2H]sinks,which could help mitigate CH_(4)emission,and 2)core microbes involved in fiber digestion.This experiment supported lower CH_(4)emission and greater nutrient digestibility of yaks compared to cattle.Multi-omics combined with microbial culture technologies developed in recent years could help to better understand fermentation differences among species.
基金financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32125028,32192431)the Science and Technology Major Project of Gansu Province,China(23ZDKA0006).
文摘Tree growth is extremely vulnerable to climate change,especially in semi-arid areas.Although the response of stem radial growth(SRG)to climate change has been extensively studied,the intra-annual regulatory mechanisms of SRG in trees with different water use strategies and life types remain poorly understood.This study calculated the SRG of four native species in the semi-arid area of the Loess Plateau,China,including two isohydric species(Pinus tabuliformis Carrière and Populus×hopeiensis Hu&Chow)and two anisohydric species(Prunus sibirica L.and Platycladus orientalis(L.)Franco).The results revealed that the intra-annual SRG of all the four tree species exhibited a single peak,and greater SRG was found in anisohydric species.Principal component analysis and structural equation model revealed that atmospheric water,particularly relative humidity,was the main factor affecting the SRG of coniferous species(P.tabuliformis and P.orientalis),whereas the SRG was mainly affected by soil water content in broadleaf species(P.sibirica and P.×hopeiensis).These findings suggested that water use strategies and life types play important roles in SRG and environmental response of trees in semi-arid area.Considering the high climate sensitivity of wood formation in trees,our results highlight the importance of water use strategies and life types of trees in SRG prediction in the context of future climate change in arid and semi-arid areas.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32130109 and 32373113)the National Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai(23ZR1426800)SciTech Funding by CSPFTZ Lingang Special Area Marine Biomedical Innovation Platform.
文摘Temperature fluctuations challenge ectothermic species,particularly tropical fish dependent on external temperatures for physiological regulation.However,the molecular mechanisms through which low-temperature stress impacts immune responses in these species,especially in relation to chromatin accessibility and epigenetic regulation,remain poorly understood.In this study,we investigate chromatin and transcriptional changes in the head kidney and thymus tissues of Nile tilapia(Oreochromis niloticus),a tropical fish of significant economic importance,under cold stress.By analyzing cis-regulatory elements in open chromatin regions and their associated transcription factors(TFs),we construct a comprehensive transcriptional regulatory network(TRN)governing immune responses,including DNA damage-induced apoptosis.Our analysis identifies 119 TFs within the TRN,with Stat1 emerging as a central hub exhibiting distinct binding dynamics under cold stress,as revealed by footprint analysis.Overexpression of Stat1 in immune cells leads to apoptosis and increases the expression of apoptosis-related genes,many of which contain Stat1-binding sites in their regulatory regions,emphasizing its critical role in immune cell survival during cold stress.These results provide insights into the transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of immune responses to cold stress in tilapia and highlight Stat1 as a promising target for enhancing cold tolerance in tropical fish species.
基金supported by National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFD1300302)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U23A20216 and 32372905)。
文摘Background Coumarins are toxic phytochemicals found in a variety of plants and are known to limit microbial degradation and interfere with nutrient cycling.While the degradation of coumarins by fungi has been studied in an environmental context,little is known about their degradation in the gastrointestinal system of herbivores after ingestion.Results In this study,we investigated in vitro fermentation by microbial enrichment,transcriptome sequencing,and high-resolution mass spectrometry to evaluate the ability of rumen anaerobic fungi to degrade coumarins.The results showed that despite the low abundance of anaerobic fungi in the rumen microbiota,they were able to effectively degrade coumarins.Specifically,Pecoramyces ruminantium F1 could tolerate coumarin concentrations up to 3 mmol/L and degrade it efficiently via metabolic pathways involving alpha/beta hydrolases and NAD(P)H oxidoreductases within the late growth phase.The fungus metabolized coumarin to less toxic compounds,including o-coumaric acid and melilotic acid,highlighting the detoxification potential of anaerobic fungi.Conclusions This study is the first to demonstrate the ability of rumen anaerobic fungi to degrade coumarin,providing new insights into the use of anaerobic fungi in sustainable agricultural practices and environmental detoxification strategies.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant no.31971638)the Public Welfare Project of Fujian Science and Technology Department(grant no.2024R1002001).
文摘Climate change is expected to alter the popu-lation dynamics of pioneer tree species and their planned use in sustainable forest management,but we have a lim-ited understanding of how their demographic rates change in response to climate changes during ecological restora-tion.Based on 12 years of demographic data for a pioneer tree species(Pinus massoniana)censused in three plots that correspond to three stages of ecological restoration in south-eastern China.We built integral projection models(IPMs)to assess vital rates(survival,growth,reproduction)and population growth in each plot,then evaluated demographic changes to simulated changes in seasonal mean temperature and precipitation in the current and previous census period.The plot representing the medium restoration stage had the highest population growth rate(λ=0.983).Mean population survival probability increased with ecological restoration,and reproduction probability was significantly suppressed at the high restoration stage.Survival is always the most important vital rate forλ,and climate affectsλprimarily via survival at each restoration stage.The current spring tem-perature was the most critical climate variable forλin the low and medium restoration stages,and previous summer temperature was most critical in the high restoration stage.Simulated warming leads to a decrease in the stochastic population growth rate(λ_(s))of P.massoniana in every stage.These findings suggest that during ecological restoration,P.massoniana responds to habitat change via modified demo-graphic performance,thus altering its response to climate change.Despite diverse responses to climate change,the persistence of P.massoniana populations is facing a wide-spread threat of warming states at each restoration stages.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (2014CB138702)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31502001)
文摘Synonymous codon usage pattern presumably reflects gene expression optimization as a result of molecular evolution. Though much attention has been paid to various model organisms ranging from prokaryotes to eukaryotes, codon usage has yet been extensively investigated for model legume Medicago truncatula. In present study, 39 531 available coding sequences （CDSs） from M. truncatula were examined for codon usage bias （CUB）. Based on analyses including neutrality plots, effective number of codons plots, and correlations between optimal codons frequency and codon adaptation index, we conclude that natural selection is a major driving force in M. truncatula CUB. We have identified 30 optimal codons encoding 18 amino acids based on relative synonymous codon usage. These optimal codons characteristically end with A or T, except for AGG and TTG encoding arginine and leucine respectively. Optimal codon usage is positively correlated with the GC content at three nucleotide positions of codons and the GC content of CDSs. The abundance of expressed sequence tag is a proxy for gene expression intensity in the legume, but has no relatedness with either CDS length or GC content. Collectively, we unravel the synonymous codon usage pattern in M. truncatula, which may serve as the valuable information on genetic engineering of the model legume and forage crop.
基金funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China(project no.31872417)。
文摘Background:Bacillus amyloliquefaciens(BA)and Bacillus subtilis(BS)are usually used as feed supplements directly or bacterial inoculants in biological feeds for animals.However,few research have reported the effects of BA and BS on fermentation characteristics and bacterial community successions of whole-plant corn silage during ensiling.If the BA and BS inoculants have positive effects on silages,then they could not only improve fermentation characteristics,but also deliver BA or BS viable cells to ruminants,which would play its probiotic effect.Therefore,the objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of BA and BS on the fermentation,chemical characteristics,bacterial community and their metabolic pathway of whole-plant corn silage.Results:Freshly chopped whole-plant corn was inoculated without or with BA and BS,respectively,and ensiled for1,3,7,14 and 60 d.Results showed that BA and BS inoculations increased lactic acid concentrations of whole-plant corn silages compared with control,and BA inoculation decreased acetic acid concentrations,whereas BS inoculation decreased fiber contents and increased crude protein(CP)content.Higher water-soluble carbohydrate contents and lower starch contents were observed in BA-and BS-inoculated silages compared with that in control.The decreased CP content and increased non-protein nitrogen content were observed in BA-inoculated silage,which was consistent with the higher amino acid metabolism abundances observed in BA-inoculated silage.In addition,it was noteworthy that BA and BS inoculations increased the metabolism of cofactors and vitamins,and decreased the relative abundances of drug resistance:antimicrobial pathways.We also found that the bacterial metabolism pathways were clearly separated into three clusters based on the ensiling times of whole-plant corn silage in the present study.There were no significant differences in bacterial community compositions among the three groups during ensiling.However,BA and BS inoculations decreased the relative abundances of undesirable bacteria such as Acetobacter and Acinetobacter.Conclusion:Our findings suggested that the BS strain was more suitable as silage inoculants than the BA strain in whole-plant corn silage in this study.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41571051, 91425301)
文摘As a main component in water balance,evapotranspiration(ET)is of great importance for water saving,especially in arid and semi-arid areas.In this study,the FAO(Food and Agriculture Organization)Penman-Monteith model was used to estimate the magnitude and temporal dynamics of reference evapotranspiration(ET0)in 2014 in subalpine meadows of the Qilian Mountains,Northwest China.Meanwhile,actual ET(ETc)was also investigated by the eddy covariance(EC)system.Results indicated that ETc estimated by the EC System was 583 mm,lower than ET0(923 mm)estimated by the FAO Penman-Monteith model in 2014.Moreover,ET0 began to increase in March and reached the peak value in August and then declined in September,however,ETc began to increase from April and reached the peak value in July,and then declined in August.Total ETc and ET0 values during the growing season(from May to September)were 441 and 666 mm,respectively,which accounted for 75.73%of annual cumulative ETc and 72.34%of annual cumulative ET0,respectively.A crop coefficient(kc)was also estimated for calculating the ETc,and average value of kc during the growing season was 0.81(ranging from 0.45 to 1.16).Air temperature(Ta),wind speed(u),net radiation(Rn)and soil temperature(Ts)at the depth of 5 cm and aboveground biomass were critical factors for affecting kc,furthermore,a daily empirical kc equation including these main driving factors was developed.Our result demonstrated that the ETc value estimated by the data of kc and ET0 was validated and consistent with the growing season data in 2015 and 2016.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(ref.2017YFC0505203)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(ref.2018CDDY-S02-SCU)+1 种基金National High-Level Talents Special Support Plan(10 Thousand Talents Plan)985 and 211 Projects of Sichuan University.
文摘Actinidia chinensis(kiwifruit)is a perennial horticultural crop species of the Actinidiaceae family with high nutritional and economic value.Two versions of the A.chinensis genomes have been previously assembled,based mainly on relatively short reads.Here,we report an improved chromosome-level reference genome of A.chinensis(v3.0),based mainly on PacBio long reads and Hi-C data.The high-quality assembled genome is 653 Mb long,with 0.76%heterozygosity.At least 43%of the genome consists of repetitive sequences,and the most abundant long terminal repeats were further identified and account for 23.38%of our novel genome.It has clear improvements in contiguity,accuracy,and gene annotation over the two previous versions and contains 40,464 annotated protein-coding genes,of which 94.41%are functionally annotated.Moreover,further analyses of genetic collinearity revealed that the kiwifruit genome has undergone two whole-genome duplications:one affecting all Ericales families near the K-T extinction event and a recent genus-specific duplication.The reference genome presented here will be highly useful for further molecular elucidation of diverse traits and for the breeding of this horticultural crop,as well as evolutionary studies with related taxa.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.31370603,31170571 and31522013)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(lzujbky-2016-ct10)
文摘Picea crassifolia and P.wilsonii,commonly used for afforestation in northern China,are increasingly likely to be subjected to high temperatures and soil drought stress as a result of global warming.However,little is known about the effects of these stresses on foliar photosynthesis in the two species.To investigate how photosynthetic characteristics and sensitivity respond to prolonged high temperatures and soil drought,foliar gas exchange and other closely related parameters were recorded from four-year-old seedlings of both species.Seedlings were grown under two temperature treatments(25/15 and 35/25 °C) and four soil water regimes [80,60,40 and 20% of maximum field capacity(FC)] for 4 months.Although all treatments significantly reduced photosynthetic rates(Pn) of both species,P.crassifolia exhibited greater photosynthetic acclimation than P.wilsonii.Differences in photosynthetic acclimation were mainly related to variations in stomatal conductance(Cond) and the maximum quantum yield of PSII(Fv/Fm) between treatments.Indeed,higher Cond and Fv/Fmin all treatments were shown for P.crassifolia than for P.wilsonii.Moreover,photosynthesis in P.crassifolia exhibited inherently lower temperature sensitivities(broader span for the temperature response curves; lower b) and higher thermostability(invariable b between treatments).Further,severe drought stress(20% FC) limited the survival of P.wilsonii.Our results indicate that P.wilsonii is more susceptible to high temperatures and soil drought stress.Planting P.crassifolia would be more expected to survive these conditions and hence be of greater benefit to forest stability if predicted increases in drought and temperature in northern China occur.
基金This work was supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA20100101)the Major Special Science and Technology Project of Gansu Province,China(18ZD2FA009)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31522013).
文摘Soil water content is a key limiting factor for vegetation growth in the semi-arid area of Chinese Loess Plateau and precipitation is the main source of soil water content in this area.To further understand the impact of vegetation types and environmental factors such as precipitation on soil water content,we continuously monitored the seasonal dynamics in soil water content in four plots(natural grassland,Caragana korshinskii,Armeniaca sibirica and Pinus tabulaeformis)in Chinese Loess Plateau.The results show that the amplitude of soil water content fluctuation decreases with an increase in soil depth,showing obvious seasonal variations.Soil water content of artificial vegetation was found to be significantly lower than that of natural grassland,and most precipitation events have difficulty replenishing soil water content below a depth of 40 cm.Spring and autumn are the key seasons for replenishment of soil water by precipitation.Changes in soil water content are affected by precipitation,vegetation types,soil evaporation and other factors.The interception effect of vegetation on precipitation and the demand for water consumption by transpiration are the key factors affecting the efficiency of soil water replenishment by precipitation in this area.Due to artificial vegetation plantation in this area,soil will face a water deficit crisis in the future.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2017YFC0505203)National Natural Science Foundation of China(31590821 and 31561123001)+2 种基金Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2018CDDY-S02-SCU and SCU2019D013)National High-Level Talents Special Support Plan(10 Thousand of People Plan)985 and 211 Projects of Sichuan University.
文摘Isatis indigotica(2n=14)is an important medicinal plant in China.Its dried leaves and roots(called Isatidis Folium and Isatidis Radix,respectively)are broadly used in traditional Chinese medicine for curing diseases caused by bacteria and viruses such as influenza and viral pneumonia.Various classes of compounds isolated from this species have been identified as effective ingredients.Previous studies based on transcriptomes revealed only a few candidate genes for the biosynthesis of these active compounds in this medicinal plant.Here,we report a high-quality chromosome-scale genome assembly of I.indigotica with a total size of 293.88 Mb and scaffold N50=36.16 Mb using single-molecule real-time long reads and high-throughput chromosome conformation capture techniques.We annotated 30,323 highconfidence protein-coding genes.Based on homolog searching and functional annotations,we identified many candidate genes involved in the biosynthesis of main active components such as indoles,terpenoids,and phenylpropanoids.In addition,we found that some key enzyme-coding gene families related to the biosynthesis of these components were expanded due to tandem duplications,which likely drove the production of these major active compounds and explained why I.indigotica has excellent antibacterial and antiviral activities.Our results highlighted the importance of genome sequencing in identifying candidate genes for metabolite synthesis in medicinal plants.
基金We thank the generations of Chinese botanists who have conducted extensive research on the plants in the study region.This study was supported by Key Program of National Natural Science Foundation China(No.41671038)National Key Research and Development Program of China(2017YFC0504801).
文摘Large-scale patterns of biodiversity and the underlying mechanisms that regulate these patterns are central topics in biogeography and macroecology.The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau serves as a natural laboratory for studying these issues.However,most previous studies have focused on the entire Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,leaving independent physical geographic subunits in the region less well understood.We studied the current plant diversity of the Kunlun Mountains,an independent physical geographic subunit located in northwestern China on the northern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.We integrated measures of species distribution,geological history,and phylogeography,and analyzed the taxonomic richness,phylogenetic diversity,and community phylogenetic structure of the current plant diversity in the area.The distribution patterns of 1911 seed plants showed that species were distributed mainly in the eastern regions of the Kunlun Mountains.The taxonomic richness,phylogenetic diversity,and genera richness showed that the eastern regions of the Kunlun Mountains should be the priority area of biodiversity conservation,particularly the southeastern regions.The proportion of Chinese endemic species inhabiting the Kunlun Mountains and their floristic similarity may indicate that the current patterns of species diversity were favored via species colonization.The Hengduan Mountains,a biodiversity hotspot,is likely the largest source of species colonization of the Kunlun Mountains after the Quaternary.The net relatedness index indicated that 20 of the 28 communities examined were phylo-genetically dispersed,while the remaining communities were phylogenetically clustered.The nearest taxon index indicated that 27 of the 28 communities were phylogenetically clustered.These results suggest that species colonization and habitat filtering may have contributed to the current plant diversity of the Kunlun Mountains via ecological and evolutionary processes,and habitat filtering may play an important role in this ecological process.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(91025015,51178209)
文摘Stemflow of xerophytic shrubs represents a significant component of water replenishment to the soil-root system and influences water utilization of plant roots at the stand scale,especially in water-scarce semi-arid ecosystems.The stemflow of two semi-arid shrubs(Caragana korshinskii and Hippophae rhamnoides)and its effect on soil moisture enhancement were evaluated during the growing season of 2011 in the semi-arid loess region of China.The results indicated that stemflow averaged 12.3%and 8.4%of the bulk precipitation for C.korshinskii and H.rhamnoides,respectively.Individual stemflow increased in a linear function with increasing rainfall depth.The relationship between funneling ratios and rainfall suggested that there existed a rainfall depth threshold of 11 mm for both C.korshinskii and H.rhamnoides.Averaged funneling ratios were 156.6±57.1 and49.5±30.8 for C.korshinskii and H.rhamnoides,respectively,indicating that the canopy architecture of the two shrubs was an effective funnel to channel stemflow to the root area,and C.korshinskii showed a greater potential to use stemflow water in the semi-arid conditions.For individual rainfall events,the wetting front depths were approximately 2 times deeper in the rooting zone around the stems than in the bare area outside canopy for both C.korshinskii and H.rhamnoides.Correspondingly,soil water content was also significantly higher in the root area around the shrub stem than in the area outside the shrub canopy.This confirms that shrub stemflow conserved in the deep soil layers may be an available moisture source for plant growth under semi-arid conditions.
基金This work was supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA20100101)a Major Special Science and Technology Project of Gansu Province(18ZD2FA009)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)(31522013).
文摘Background:Large-scale afforestation can significantly change the ground cover and soil physicochemical properties,especially the soil fertility maintenance and water conservation functions of artificial forests,which are very important in semi-arid mountain ecosystems.However,how different tree species affect soil nutrients and soil physicochemical properties after afforestation,and which is the best plantation species for improving soil fertility and water conservation functions remain largely unknown.Methods:This study investigated the soil nutrient contents of three different plantations(Larix principis-rupprechtii,Picea crassifolia,Pinus tabuliformis),soils and plant-soil feedbacks,as well as the interactions between soil physicochemical properties.Results:The results revealed that the leaves and litter layers strongly influenced soil nutrient availability through biogeochemical processes:P.tabuliformis had higher organic carbon,ratio of organic carbon to total nitrogen(C:N)and organic carbon to total phosphorus(C:P)in the leaves and litter layers than L.principis-rupprechtii or P.crassifolia,suggesting that higher C:N and C:P hindered litter decomposition.As a result,the L.principis-rupprechtii and P.crassifolia plantation forests significantly improved soil nutrients and clay components,compared with the P.tabuliformis plantation forest.Furthermore,the L.principis-rupprechtii and P.crassifolia plantation forests significantly improved the soil capacity,soil total porosity,and capillary porosity,decreased soil bulk density,and enhanced water storage capacity,compared with the P.tabuliformis plantation forest.The results of this study showed that,the strong link between plants and soil was tightly coupled to C:N and C:P,and there was a close correlation between soil particle size distribution and soil physicochemical properties.Conclusions:Therefore,our results recommend planting the L.principis-rupprechtii and P.crassifolia as the preferred tree species to enhance the soil fertility and water conservation functions,especially in semi-arid regions mountain forest ecosystems.
