Parasenecio lanpingensis X. F. Jiang, 2025, is a newly described perennial herb found in China. The plastome of P. lanpingensis is 151,241 base pairs (bp) in size with GC content in. It consists of an 83,363 bplarge single-copy region (LSC), a 18,182 bp small single-copy region (SSC), and a 26848 bp inverted repeat (IR) sequence. The plastome contains 122 genes, including 87 protein-coding genes and 35 tRNA genes. A maximum-likelihood (ML) analysis based on 30 Asteraceae species indicates that P. lanpingensisis closely related to Parasenecio latipes. This plastome will be useful for the further understanding in the taxonomy and evolutionary history of Parasenecio.

Functional characterization of the key enzyme gene SmAOC1/2 in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge jasmonic acid biosynthesis pathway.

The accelerated pace of urbanization has significant effects on the community composition, structure, regional distribution, and diversity characteristics of vegetation within urban river corridors. Spontaneous plants have strong environmental adaptability, high plasticity, and shorter life cycles; they also operate largely independently of human control. As a result, they are widely distributed throughout urban river corridors, and their ability to respond rapidly to heterogeneous habitats within these corridors makes them an ideal subject for studying the reciprocal mechanisms between rapid urbanization and riverine biodiversity. Based on a survey of 208 plots across six river corridors in Changchun, China, we found that the hydrological gradient was the strongest predictor of spontaneous herbaceous community distribution among the environmental factors examined. A total of 181 native herbaceous plant species, belonging to 55 families and 140 genera, were recorded. The Asteraceae, Poaceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, and Polygonaceae families dominated. TWINSPAN classification divided the native herbaceous plant communities into 11 types, with the dominant species being predominantly low-growing perennial herbaceous plants. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) ordination confirmed this pattern, showing that the community distribution from aquatic to terrestrial habitats primarily aligned along the first CCA axis (defined by water depth and canopy cover), while the second axis reflected gradients in anthropogenic disturbance and slope. Thus, even in intensively managed urban rivers, natural hydrological processes remain pivotal in shaping riparian plant community composition and enhancing biodiversity. This study provides a scientific foundation for the conservation and sustainable utilization of plant resources in urban river corridors.

Comparative HPLC profiling, antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory activities, and in silico molecular analysis of the aerial parts of Epimedium pubigerum.

Comparative analysis of adaptive mechanisms to salt-alkali stress in two Leymus chinensis ecotypes.

Shrub leachates rich in soluble phenols negatively affect the germination of dominant perennial grasses and shrubs in the Patagonian Monte

CSR strategy composition of urban spontaneous plants:A case from Yangling, China.

This article discusses the possibilities of improving the physical properties of meadow brown soils through the sowing of perennial grasses and the use of deep plowing. Soil bulk density, particle density, porosity, and aggregate composition were studied. The results of the study indicate that sowing perennial grasses significantly improves the physical properties of soils, increases fertility, and promotes the stabilization of physico-chemical parameters. It was found that deep plowing with a chisel enhances soil structure and increases biological activity, particularly in the upper layers.

Polygonatum kingianum (dian huang jing), a perennial herb valued in traditional Chinese medicine for its bioactive polysaccharides and steroidal saponins, is increasingly threatened by stem rot disease across major cultivation regions in China (Tan et al., 2021). In August 2024, severe stem rot symptoms were observed in commercial fields in Panzhou County, Liupanshui, Guizhou Province, China (25°82′N, 104°53′E; elevation 2,113 meters). Initial symptoms included water-soaked, orange-red lesions on rhizomes, progressing to extensive soft rot, vascular browning, and tissue maceration. Aboveground symptoms featured progressive wilting, chlorosis, stunted growth, and eventual plant death. Five diseased underground stem tissues were surface-sterilized with 2% NaClO for 60 second, followed by three sterile-water rinses, then plated on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and incubated at 25°C in darkness. Three morphologically similar isolates (GF-1 to GF-3) were purified via mono-spore culturing. Colonies developed dense, cottony white aerial mycelia transitioning to pale gray after 7 days, with profuse salmon-orange conidial masses. Conidia were hyaline, aseptate, cylindrical with obtuse ends, measuring 13.2-16.8 × 4.5-5.7 µm (15.1 ± 0.9 × 5.0 ± 0.3 µm). Appressoria were dark brown, clavate to irregular, measuring 6.5-10.2 × 4.8-7.1 µm. For molecular identification, genomic DNA was extracted from the isolates (Zhao et al., 2020). Five loci were amplified: act, chs1, gapdh, his3, ITS, and tub2. PCR conditions followed standard protocols (Liu et al., 2022). A maximum-likelihood phylogeny (1,000 bootstraps) of concatenated sequences (act-chs1-gapdh-his3-ITS-tub2) constructed using MEGA-X version 10.1.6 (Kumar et al., 2018) showed that the isolates (GF-1 to GF-3) form a monophyletic clade, which was denoted as a new species (Colletotrichum panzhouensis). Pathogenicity tests used 2-year-old healthy P. kingianum plants grown in autoclaved soil in a pot (8.7 cm height, 9.7 cm upper diameter, and 6.7 cm bottom diameter). Each pot was irrigated with 5 ml of conidial suspension (10⁶ conidia/ml). Control plants received sterile water. Plants were maintained in a greenhouse (25°C; 85% RH; 12-h photoperiod). All inoculated plants underground stem developed water-soaked lesions within 9 days, progressing to severe necrotic rot and wilting at 17 days post-inoculation, matching field symptoms. Controls remained asymptomatic. The pathogens were reisolated from lesions and identified by morphological and molecular data, fulfilling Koch’s postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first global report of C. panzhouensis causing stem rot on P. kingianum. This finding underscores that C. panzhouensis may pose a significant threat to the sustainable cultivation of Polygonatum kingianum. Urgent research on host resistance, fungicide efficacy, and cultural controls is warranted.

In arid ecosystems, soil microorganisms experience prolonged drought and nutrient limitation, resulting in widespread dormancy and a decoupling between microbial presence and activity. The rhizosphere is a resource-rich microenvironment where plants, inputs may alleviate these constraints and regulate microbial metabolic states. However, it remains unclear whether root system effects in extreme environments reflect taxonomic turnover or the activation of dormant soil bacteria. Here, we investigated whether the rhizosphere-surrounding soil (RSS) of Pappostipa frigida, a dominant perennial grass of the Andean steppe of the Atacama Desert, reshapes soil bacterial communities primarily by promoting the activation of dormant taxa rather than by recruiting distinct bacterial populations, and how this process influences microbial diversity, activity, and functional potential. We employed a combination of soil physicochemical analyses, RNA/DNA metabarcoding, shotgun metagenomic sequencing and culture-based assays to compare bulk soil (BS) and RSS bacterial communities. The active bacterial community in the RSS exhibited significantly higher diversity and Shannon index than those in BS, whereas total (DNA-based) communities showed no significant differences between soil compartments. Taxonomic structure was primarily shaped by soil compartment rather than nucleic acid type, and active bacteria in the RSS showed a stronger correlation with total bacterial populations than those in the BS. Notably, 65% of putatively dormant bacterial taxa in BS were detected as active in RSS, and 75% were recoverable in culture. Additionally, 24% were members of PGP bacterial families. Functionally, the bacterial communities of the BS were enriched in sporulation genes, whereas active bacterial communities in the RSS showed higher abundances of genes associated with osmotic stress tolerance, siderophore synthesis, and resuscitation-promoting factors. Our results indicate that the root system of Pappostipa frigida functions as a localized hotspot of microbial activity in an extreme arid environment by promoting the activation of dormant members of the soil microbial seed bank rather than by recruiting distinct taxa. By integrating microbial activity, functional traits, and culturability, this study highlights the central role of plant-associated microenvironments in regulating microbial life-history strategies in drylands and provides a mechanistic framework for understanding plant-microbe interactions under chronic environmental stress.

The generality of the worldwide leaf economics spectrum (LES) has made it a pillar of trait-based ecological research. Yet, few studies have examined the processes shaping the evolution of the LES within species, in part, because most species occupy only a small portion of the LES. To address this gap, we took advantage of the distinct leaf economics strategies present in different ecotypes of the phenotypically diverse perennial grass Panicum virgatum (switchgrass) to generate a genetic mapping population, which we planted in common gardens at three sites spanning 12 degrees of latitude in the central United States. With this genetic mapping population, we evaluated two potentially interacting causes of LES evolution: 1) genetic architecture, where multiple traits are influenced by either the same gene (pleiotropy) or by genes in close physical proximity (genetic linkage), and 2) correlational selection, where selection acts on traits in combination rather than in isolation. We found that shared genetic architecture influenced covariation between photosynthetic rate (AMASS) and leaf nitrogen (NMASS) and between AMASS and leaf mass per area (LMA). We also found that correlational selection favored the trait combinations predicted by the LES (e.g., high LMA with low NMASS or low LMA with high NMASS) and disfavored other, mismatched trait combinations at two of the three sites. Together, these results demonstrate how the evolution of an integrated LES within species can arise from multiple evolutionary causes.

Biolistic particle bombardment was used to deliver CRISPR-Cas9 ribonucleoprotein complexes (RNP) into the shoot apical meristem tissue of citrus and axillary meristem tissue of poplar, generating directed mutations in target genes. The use of meristematic tissues offers a strategic approach to genome editing in woody species, especially those that are recalcitrant to conventional tissue culture, as these regions contain totipotent, highly regenerative cells capable of giving rise to whole plants. Here, we employed biolistic delivery of genome-editing reagents into theshoot apical meristem (SAM) of citrus and the axillary meristems (AXM) of poplar. The system was first validated using a GFP expression construct and subsequently applied for targeted genome editing. In citrus, edited plants were obtained at the CsNPR3 locus exclusively through the delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoproteins (RNPs), whereas plasmid-based vectors were unsuccessful. Similarly, genome editing in poplar was achieved using RNPs targeting the Pt4CL1 gene. Although chimeric events were detected, this approach provides a feasible and innovative framework for producing transgene-free edited perennial plants.

Abstract Introduction Revegetation using native vegetation is a commonly used technique to reclaim landscapes degraded by mining activities. Revegetation efforts in the arid Southwestern United States face physical, geochemical, hydrological, and biological challenges unique to drylands. It is crucial to select seed application methods that have the highest chance of success when considering site characteristics and environmental limitations. Objectives The study evaluated the (1) effects of timing of seeding (summer monsoon vs. winter rains); (2) seed application method (hydroseeding vs. seedball application); and (3) mycorrhizal fungi inoculation (AM120 commercial suite) on plant establishment patterns across 4 years on a copper mine located in an arid region of central Arizona. Results Timing of seeding and mycorrhizae inoculation did not affect the overall cover and density of vegetation; however, plant community composition for all hydroseeded treatments shifted over time from one dominated by annual forbs to a shrub‐dominated community with an understory of annual and perennial grasses. Hydroseeding was most successful in reestablishing vegetation and was shown to contribute to the development and maintenance of a native soil seed bank. Conclusions Our results indicate that hydroseeding is a viable technique for both revegetation and the amplification and development of the native seedbank on hard rock mines in arid lands. Longer term monitoring will further confirm the impact of the seed mix composition and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal inoculation on the observed transitions in plant community development and provide a metric for plant establishment patterns during the early monitoring stages of mine site reclamation.

Flooding-stimulated plant community development mediates the detrimental effects of salinization on the soil seed bank: Implications for near-natural restoration of degraded wetlands in semi-arid regions.

Plant architecture is a critical agronomic trait that directly influences both the ornamental and commercial value of horticultural crops. Spathiphyllum kochii, a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant in the Araceae family, includes a naturally occurring dwarf mutant, Meibian', which provides a valuable genetic resource for elucidating the molecular mechanisms controlling plant stature. In this study, we constructed a high-quality, full-length reference transcriptome based on the standard cultivar 'Meijiu' and its dwarf mutant 'Meibian' using PacBio Iso-Seq platforms. De novo assembly yielded 122,346 non-redundant high-confidence transcripts, including 94,809 predicted protein-coding sequences, of which 85,055 (89.71%) were successfully annotated in public databases. Phenotypically, 'Meibian' exhibits markedly reduced leaf, petiole, spathe, and spadix size compared to 'Meijiu'. Transcriptome profiling across these four tissues identified 2,660 differentially expressed genes, with a global trend toward transcriptional repression in the dwarf mutant. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis revealed a key module significantly correlated with the dwarf phenotype, enriched in cytokinin-responsive genes and negative regulators of molecular functions. Among the hub genes, Spathiphyllum kochii Regulator of Chromosome Condensation 1 (SpRCC1) was identified as a potential key regulator. Full-length cloning confirmed a 2,303 bp coding sequence encoding a conserved RCC1 domain protein localized in the nucleus. Expression analysis showed significantly lower SpRCC1 expression in 'Meibian', consistent with transcriptome data. Overexpression of SpRCC1 in Arabidopsis thaliana resulted in increased leaf area, supporting its positive role in promoting growth. This study provides the first functional evidence linking SpRCC1 to plant architecture regulation in Spathiphyllum and establishes a valuable transcriptomic resource for molecular breeding of compact ornamental cultivars.

Allium grayi Regel is a seasonally limited small perennial herb of the subfamily Allioideae, and is endemic to Matsu, Taiwan. The species possesses nutritious, ornamental value, and biological pharmacological activity. This study evaluated for the first time to induce polyploidy using the dissected bulb of A. grayi as explants in vitro, with the expectation of increasing the bulb size. Sterile bulbs were divided into four equal parts and pre-cultured under different durations before being soaked in a one g/L colchicine solution for 12 or 24 hours. Survival, regeneration, variation, and tetraploid induction rates were recorded, while ploidy levels were determined by flow cytometry and stomatal traits were measured microscopically. The results showed that pre-cultured treatment after dissecting the sterile bulbs increased the variation rate of the plants, with the group that was left static for 10 days before immersing in a one g/L colchicine liquid medium for 24 hours showing the best results. The variation rate reached 100%, and the induction rate of tetraploid plants reached 20% by flow cytometry examination. Among 123 regenerated shoots, 13 were chimeras and three stable tetraploid lines were established, all exhibiting larger stomata and lower stomatal density than diploids. These tetraploid lines provide great potential for future breeding and improvement of Matsu native shallot cultivars.

Beef cattle production is a significant economic activity in the southeastern US. Managing grazing systems efficiently requires understanding the complex forage growth-defoliation-animal performance system and its components such as forage crop plants, grazing animals, and the interface between them. Due to this complexity, the individual system components must be studied in relation to the system as a whole. This necessitates the use of mathematical modeling. Modeling a grazing system includes evaluating the forage crop system and the animal system via a coupled forage-animal interface and mathematically representing all the interactions among the plants, animals, and the environment. Due to the continuous changes in weather, soil conditions, forage maturity, animal maturity, and diet selectivity, the production and nutritive value of forage plants vary daily, and so do animal nutrient requirements, herbage intake, and animal performance. Models that can account for these daily phenomena are needed for realistically simulating dynamic animal performance. However, there are currently no computer systems for estimating the daily performance of stockers that are grazing bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] pasture, a widely used warm-season perennial grass in the southeastern US. Thus, we developed a daily gain estimation system for stockers (DGESS) grazing bermudagrass by coupling the CROPGRO Perennial Forage Model to a stocker daily gain model through a simple forage-animal interface (FAI) module. Then, we tested the performance of the DGESS by using stocker average daily gain (ADG) and body weight (BW) and bermudagrass forage mass (FM) data collected from 33 trials conducted at Overton, Texas, during 1987-2020. Using these data and the corresponding values predicted by the DGESS, the values of various goodness-of-fit measures, including the mean absolute error (MAE), the root mean square error (RMSE), and the Willmott Index (WI), were computed for each variable. The small values of MAE (0.36 kg hd-1 for ADG, 22 kg hd-1 for BW, 1859 kg ha-1 for FM) and RMSE (0.44 kg hd-1 for ADG, 31 kg hd-1 for BW, 2204 kg ha-1 for FM) and the large values of WI (0.77 for ADG, 0.91 for BW, 0.73 for FM) indicated that the performance of the DGESS was strongest for predicting stocker BW, while predictions of ADG and FM exhibited greater variability. By predicting the daily gain of stockers grazing bermudagrass, the DGESS can significantly contribute to forage-beef modeling for the scientific community and economic implications for stakeholders. The DGESS can also predict the daily nutritive value of bermudagrass forage and daily FM and forage allowance.

While the effect of domestication on various aspects of plant ecophysiology has been studied, less is known about its effect on plant–soil interaction. Here, we studied three botanical species of barley in comparison with four old cultivars and four contemporary cultivars with bare soils and two perennial grasses. Aboveground and belowground biomass decreased from botanical species to old cultivars and contemporary cultivars. Aboveground biomass of all barley cultivars was about one third lower in mineral fertilizer compared to the organic one, and this difference was similar in all barley cultivars. Biomass of perennial grasses was up to one third of barley biomass, but grass biomass did not differ significantly between fertilization treatments. Belowground biomass of botanical barley is significantly higher than that of modern cultivars; this discrepancy is even more pronounced under mineral fertilizer where belowground biomass of botanical barley significantly increased, and that of modern cultivars significantly decreased in comparison with organic fertilizer treatment, which means that modern barley cultivar in combination with mineral fertilizers provides less belowground litter to soil. This in the long term can potentially, together with other factors, contribute to the depletion of cultivated soil for organic matter. Microbial respiration in soil did not differ between treatments supplied by organic fertilizer, while in mineral fertilizer treatments old cultivars had lower respiration than other treatments. Microbial biomass did not differ between treatments supplied by mineral fertilizer, but in treatments supported by organic fertilizer, perennial grasses supported more microbial biomass than all barley treatments. The same pattern was observed in C content in soil. Carbon distribution in individual soil fractions did not differ between perennial grasses and barley treatments. In general, when hotspots of organic matter were provided, plants transferred this organic matter to soil, and this activity was more pronounced in perennial grasses than in barley treatments.

Mentha deleoi is described from Isola Grande, an islet in the Stagnone of Marsala (Trapani, NW Sicily), included within the homonymous Regional Oriented Nature Reserve. It is a perennial herb with an ephemeral annual cycle; in several morphological characters, it shows affinity with M. pulegium, a Eurimediterranean hemicryptophyte widely distributed in Sicily from coastal areas to high mountain habitats. Diagnostic and differential characters are provided, together with analyses of the biology, ecology, and chemistry of this new Sicilian endemic species. Owing to its extremely restricted distribution, small population size, and the potential impacts affecting the islet and its fragile habitat, resulting from centuries saliculture, a conservation plan is proposed, aimed at both in situ and ex situ protection.

An Erratum to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.3103/S0147687425010028