Protected Plants Research Articles

Аккумуляция наносов мелкозема гидротехническим сооружением в виде запруды в условиях Ростовской области

Purpose: to study the ability to accumulate fine earth sediments delivering with surface runoff of melt and rainwater, a hydraulic structure in the form of a retaining dam in combination with reclamation protective forest planting in Rostov region. Materials and methods. The object of research is a hydraulic structure in the form of a retaining dam, laid in 1982 under the leadership of Professor E.V. Poluektov on one of the branches of the Bolshoi Log gully near the Stepnoy village, Aksai district, Rostov region. The experimental design included observing the accumulation of volume and mass of sediment in the retaining dam and comparing them with the runoff at a stationary runoff site. Surface slope was 2–3°. The generally accepted research methods by G.V. Dobrovolsky and the methodology of the Russian Scientific Research Institute of Land Improvement Problems were used. Results. The studies were conducted in 1982–2023 over three periods: 1982–1995, 1996–2004 and 2004–2023. Archive observations by Professor E.V. Poluektov for the first and second periods were used, and research was carried out in 2023. Indicators of the volume and mass of fine earth were determined, and dependencies reflecting their delivery into the retaining dam for observation periods of 1982–1995, 1996–2004 and 2005–2023 were obtained, the sediment accumulation rate in the retaining dam over the observation periods was determined. Conclusions. Long-term studies have shown that the simplest hydraulic structures in the form of retaining dams are effective and are capable of retaining sediment runoff in the amount of 15.59 tons per 1 ha of watershed, which is 61 % of the sediment runoff at a stationary runoff site of 25.63 t/ha, i.e. the amount of sediment decreased by 39 %. The obtained dependencies are planned to be used in the development of a computer program for calculating the flow of sediment into the retaining dam, and the research results can be used in the design of such hydraulic structures.

The Influence of Landscape Farming Systems on the Fertility of Eroded Residual Carbonate Chernozem

The purpose of the work is to study the influence of adaptive landscape farming systems on the fertility indicators of eroded residual carbonate chernozem. The study of carbonate soils is of particular scientific and practical interest, since they are susceptible to easy destruction, accelerated degradation and increased difficulty in restoring fertility; they suffer more from water erosion and deflation. With the integrated use of all elements of adaptive landscape farming systems, primarily including anti-erosion organization of the territory that forms the soil-protective configuration of fields, a system of protective forest plantings, adaptive placement of agricultural crops, a fertilizer system aimed at a deficit-free balance of humus and nutrients, even in extremely difficult soil conditions. -relief conditions of the Krasnogvardeisky test site managed to stop soil erosion losses, which contributed to an increase in their fertility.

Szemléletváltás a gyepelemzésben, háromdimenziós termésbecslési és minősítési módszer - Előtanulmány

From the point of view of the lawns' current existence, use and their existence for the future, but the tasks, goals and challenges of grassland management have changed, and in line with this, we have carried out surveys and developed and modified a method for fast and efficient application.
 In practice, it is very important to know the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the forage found in the pasture, as well as the exact economic value of the pasture. The purpose of this study is to present a cheap, fast, reliable and easy-to-apply estimation method.
 We took the previous methods into account and corrected and further developed them with the help of recent lawn management research results. Based on our tests, the corrected Balázs method can be used well to estimate the yield of grasslands and to determine the fodder value of the grassland. This method is cheap and requires no technical background. It also has the advantage, based on experience, that it takes into account the preference of species by animals.
 The data from the cenological survey and the height measurement of the plant stock can be used to estimate the yield, fodder value and economic value. Being a non-destructive method involving minimal trampling, it is also particularly suitable for monitoring the grassland habitat of protected plants and animals. The method is also presented on a sample example, which proves its applicability.

Bee Visits Improves Production Parameters of Maize in Northern Côte d’Ivoire (West Africa)

Maize (Zea mays) is one of cereal rich in nutrients and antioxidants essential for human health. Many studies showed that this speculation is pollinated indirectly by wind. However, we observed a strong presence of bees on the male flowers of maize as soon as they open. The high activity of bees on these flowers, causes an intense release of pollen, which couldimpact positively the fruit set. This study was carried out in the botanical garden of the university Peleforo Gon Coulibaly of Korhogo located in northern Cote d'Ivoire. Two varieties of maize (EV8728-SR and LG501) were used for this study. For each variety, 15 plants were protected from insect visits and 15 other plants were still unprotected. Ear mass,seed mass and seed number resulting from each treatment were analyzed. The findings showed that the average number of seeds per ear resulting from unprotected plants (V1: 445.8 ± 17.92 and V2: 442.27 ± 6.8) was significantly higher compared to the protected plants (V1: 242.13 ± 4.39 and V2: 208.6 ± 9.52) for each variety. The average mass of seeds resulting from unprotected plants (V1: 205.31 ± 2.23g and V2: 169.45 ± 5.15g) was also higher compared to the protected plants (V1: 101.79 ± 1.93g and V2: 77.49 ± 1.70g). Whatever the maize variety, the germination rate of seeds resulting from unprotected plants (V1: Tg = 96.67% and V2: Tg = 100%) was higher compared to the protected plants (V1: Tg = 66.67% and V2: Tg = 56.67%). This study are very relevant for farmers and scientists because, it showed clearly bee contribution in the maize production improvement.

Intensity and Direction of Dynamics of Soil Fertility Indicators in Landscape Farming

The purpose of the work is to study the dynamics of soil fertility indicators after the development of adaptive landscape farming systems in the most eroded region of the Belgorod region since 1981. Based on 40 years of research at the model object “Turnip Log”, it is shown that the direction and intensity of the soil-forming process is changing. Four stages are distinguished: at the first until 1993 the decrease in humus content and alkalization of the soil environment, characteristic of washed away carbonate soils, continues; at the second stage, the rate of humus loss drops 10 times; the third ten-year period is characterized by a significant increase in organic matter and its stabilization subsequently, which accompanied by a transition in pHsol. to the area of neutral values. The dynamics of mobile forms of macroelements and agronomically valuable cations Ca2+ and Mg2+ indicate the cultivation of soils in general. At the same time, it is emphasized that there are no universal elements in the agricultural system; Along with the creation of an ecological framework of protective plantings, it is necessary to comply with the principles of adaptive placement of agricultural crops and a deficit-free balance of humus and nutrients in crop rotations.

PERAN TANAMAN PELINDUNG DALAM PENERAPAN KEBIJAKAN PEMBANGUNAN RENDAH KARBON DI KOTA DEPOK SEBAGAI BAHAN AJAR DI SEKOLAH

The research aims to find out the role of oil plants in the implementation of low-carbon development in Depok City as well as developing biology subjects teaching materials in upper secondary schools of the Xth grade from June to December 2023. This research uses a purposive sampling method by setting five location points. On the other hand, the development of teaching materials based on the ADDIE model is used. The parameters used include the number of stomata leaves, the large c/v ratio, and the ambient air quality index. The results of the research showed that on the road Margonda Raya City Depok has 21 types of protective plants with a total of 509 plants and with the most frequency is trembesi with the rate of the number of stomata 32,39 smaller than the control location on the street Boulevard GDC with the largest number of stoma, that is, an average of 50,33±7,09 cells, so the stomatal density on the leaves of trembesi in this location is higher compared with other segments, which is 256,476 ± 36,13 cells/ mm2. Data recorded the V/C ratio of Margonda Raya Street in 2022 at 0.91. Depok's air quality index on Monday, June 12, 2023, from 4.00 to 5.00 PM is PM10 of 33, PM2.5 of 60, SO2 of 16, CO of 58, O3 of 5, NO2 of 19, and HC of 20. The results of the research are used as teaching materials. The results showed that the three-validator rating category was highly valid (86.57%), the one-on-one and small-group ratings also showed highly valid categories (85.57%), and the student's limited test result showed the category was very valid (90.75%). amounting to 80.95 on pre-test and post-test rates of 96.38. N-gain's effectiveness is 0.74, which means it's very effective.

Species distribution modeling based on MaxEnt to inform biodiversity conservation in the Central Urban Area of Chongqing Municipality

Mainstreaming biodiversity into protection planning and management is of great significance for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. Species potential distribution modeling is an effective way for species diversity evaluation and biodiversity hotspots identification, which are crucial for biodiversity conservation. Taking the Central Urban Area of Chongqing Municipality as the study area, the main objectives of this study were to identify the potentially suitable habitats, species richness and biodiversity of key protected species in current and future, determine the relative contribution of environmental factors and assess the conservation effectiveness of protected areas (PAs) based on MaxEnt model and gap analysis. The results showed that the current potentially suitable habitats of total key protected species were mainly located in “two rivers and four mountains”, with a total area of 1610.55 km2, of which forestland accounted for 59.78 %. Species suitable habitats demonstrated clear topographic heterogeneity, and the distribution index decreased at first and then increased with increasing terrain niche index (TNI). Meanwhile, it was observed that key protected plants and birds shared similar suitable habitats in mountainous areas, with an overlapping area of 753.53 km2, and the high species richness covered 182.83 km2. In 2050, the future biodiversity hotspots would remain stable and increase steadily. In terms of the direction of centroid shift, the biodiversity hotspots would migrate to low latitude, low altitude and southeast by 8.34 km. The jackknife tests indicated that the potential distribution of key protected species was mainly determined by land use, mean diurnal range and TNI. Additionally, the problems of high protection gaps and low protection effectiveness coexisted in the existing PAs, with the overlapping area of the comprehensive biodiversity hotspots and the existing PAs was only 446.96 km2. Finally, suggestions for natural PAs system optimization and ecological protection were proposed. This study provides scientific supports for biodiversity conservation and efficient management.

Discovery of Natural Potent HMG-CoA Reductase Degraders for Lowering Cholesterol.

Exploitation of key protected wild plant resources makes great sense, but their limited populations become the major barrier. A particular strategy for breaking this barrier was inspired by the exploration of a resource-saving fungal endophyte Penicillium sp. DG23, which inhabits the key protected wild plant Schisandra macrocarpa. Chemical studies on the cultures of this strain afforded eight novel indole diterpenoids, schipenindolenes A-H (1-8), belonging to six diverse skeleton types. Importantly, semisyntheses suggested some key nonenzymatic reactions constructing these molecules and provided targeted compounds, in particular schipenindolene A (Spid A, 1) with low natural abundance. Remarkably, Spid A was the most potent HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR) degrader among the indole diterpenoid family. It degraded statin-induced accumulation of HMGCR protein, decreased cholesterol levels and acted synergistically with statin to further lower cholesterol. Mechanistically, transcriptomic and proteomic profiling suggested that Spid A potentially activated the endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD) pathway to enhance the degradation of HMGCR, while simultaneously inhibiting the statin-activated expression of many key enzymes in the cholesterol and fatty acid synthesis pathways, thereby strengthening the efficacy of statins and potentially reducing the side effects of statins. Collectively, this study suggests the potential of Spid A for treating cardiovascular disease.

Discovery of Natural Potent HMG‐CoA Reductase Degraders for Lowering Cholesterol

AbstractExploitation of key protected wild plant resources makes great sense, but their limited populations become the major barrier. A particular strategy for breaking this barrier was inspired by the exploration of a resource‐saving fungal endophyte Penicillium sp. DG23, which inhabits the key protected wild plant Schisandra macrocarpa. Chemical studies on the cultures of this strain afforded eight novel indole diterpenoids, schipenindolenes A−H (1–8), belonging to six diverse skeleton types. Importantly, semisyntheses suggested some key nonenzymatic reactions constructing these molecules and provided targeted compounds, in particular schipenindolene A (Spid A, 1) with low natural abundance. Remarkably, Spid A was the most potent HMG‐CoA reductase (HMGCR) degrader among the indole diterpenoid family. It degraded statin‐induced accumulation of HMGCR protein, decreased cholesterol levels and acted synergistically with statin to further lower cholesterol. Mechanistically, transcriptomic and proteomic profiling suggested that Spid A potentially activated the endoplasmic reticulum‐associated degradation (ERAD) pathway to enhance the degradation of HMGCR, while simultaneously inhibiting the statin‐activated expression of many key enzymes in the cholesterol and fatty acid synthesis pathways, thereby strengthening the efficacy of statins and potentially reducing the side effects of statins. Collectively, this study suggests the potential of Spid A for treating cardiovascular disease.

Influence of Monoculture and Polyculture Planting Patterns on the Intensity of Pest Attacks by Helopeltis sp. on Arabica Coffee of the Sigarar Utang Variety in North Tapanuli Regency

Coffee is one of the leading commodities in the plantation subsector in North Sumatra which has good market opportunities both domestically and abroad. Especially in the Lake Toba area, apart from the PBKo pest, it turns out that attacks by the coffee leaf sucking pest Helopeltis sp. are also felt to be very important by farmers, because the presence of Helopeltis sp. This causes the coffee leaf shoots to develop brown spots, curl and eventually dry out and die (die back). The aim of the research was to study the symptoms of attacks and the intensity of Helopeltis sp. attacks on Arabica coffee plants in the Lake Toba area, North Tapanuli Regency. This research was carried out on people's coffee plantations in North Tapanuli Regency at an altitude of 1,300 meters above sea level, from February to June 2023. On the Sigarar Utang variety Arabica coffee plantation with monoculture and polyculture planting patterns. The sample plants were determined to be 10% of the total plants at each observation location. Sampling of plant samples is determined using a zig zag line. The parameters observed were the intensity of attacks and the percentage of pest attacks. The results obtained by Helopeltis sp. sucking shoot pests have been known to attack coffee plants in North Tapanuli Regency with symptoms of attack. At the start of the attack, leaf spots are visible, brown, curly and eventually dry out, die back, then grow rosettes, namely shoots, new ones that are shortened tightly and do not develop. The intensity of attacks by Helopeltis sp. on smallholder coffee plantations in North Tapanuli Regency is quite varied, from light to heavy attacks with the intensity of shoot attacks ranging from 15.67% to 57.80%. Monoculture coffee plantations with protective plants, but no pruning, are locations with Helopeltis sp. attack levels in the heavy category with shoot attack intensity reaching 56.66%. The intercropping coffee plant cultivation system (polyculture) had a significant influence on the low intensity of Helopeltis sp. attacks, where tcount (8.921) > ttable (2.306).

ANALISIS KANDUNGAN KLOROFIL PADA DAUN DAN KANTONG Nepenthes gracilis [Analysis of Chlorophyll in Lamina and Pitcher of Nepenthes gracilis

Pitcher plants are plant species that have unique shapes. Nepenthes spp. in the feature has become an important issue about his developments in research on carnivorous plants and rare plants. Nepenthes spp. has been classified as a protected plant due to excessive exploitation, which can damage the place of origin. The research in this article focuses on analyzing the content of chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoid in leaves and pitchers of Nepenthes gracilis. Leaves and pitchers (fresh and dried) were extracted in 3 types of solvents (acetone, methanol, and DMSO). The samples were then analyzed with a UV-VIS spectrophotometer. The results showed that the leaf and pitcher samples had quite different results. The leaf sample showed higher results than the pitcher sample, which had a chlorophyll a (3.434a), chlorophyll b (1.311a), carotenoids (0.918a), and total chlorophyll (4.745a) content. The pitcher sample had a content of chlorophyll a (1.463b), b (0.642b), carotenoids (0.445b), and total chlorophyll (2.105b). The treatment of samples given various solvents such as DMSO, Acetone, and Ethanol showed insignificant results on the content of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids, and total chlorophyll. The conclusion is that all solvents can be used to analyze pigment content. 
 
 Keywords: Carnivorous plant, Nepenthes gracilis, Pigment Content, Extracted solvents

Predicting the Potential Distribution of Haloxylon ammodendron under Climate Change Scenarios Using Machine Learning of a Maximum Entropy Model.

Haloxylon ammodendron (H. ammodendron) is a second-class protected plant of national significance in China that is known for its growth in desert and semidesert regions, where it serves as a desert ecosystem guardian by playing a substantial role in maintaining ecosystem structure and function. The changing global climate has substantially altered the growth conditions for H. ammodendron. This study focuses on identifying the key variables influencing the distribution of H. ammodendron and determining their potential impact on future distribution. We employed the Maxent model to evaluate the current climate suitability for H. ammodendron distribution and to project its future changes across various shared socioeconomic pathway (SSP) scenarios. Our findings indicate that precipitation during the warmest quarter and precipitation during the wettest month are the most influential variables affecting the potentially suitable habitats of H. ammodendron. The highly suitable habitat area for H. ammodendron currently covers approximately 489,800 km2. The Maxent model forecasts an expansion of highly suitable H. ammodendron habitat under all future SSP scenarios, with the extent of unsuitable areas increasing with greater global warming. The increased highly suitable habitats range from 40% (SSP585) to 80% (SSP126) by the 2070s (2060-2080). Furthermore, our results indicate a continued expansion of desertification areas due to global warming, highlighting the significant role of H. ammodendron in maintaining desert ecosystem stability. This study offers valuable insights into biodiversity preservation and ecological protection in the context of future climate change scenarios.

Status of rare plant cenopopulations of the tract “Bolshiye Mochazhiny” in Balashov district, Saratov region

Cenopopulations of three rare and protected plants of the Saratov region (Gladiolus tenuis, Iris halophila, and Dactylorrhiza incarnata) were found in the tract “Bolshiye Mochazhiny”. These species are protected in neighboring regions as well – the Tambov, Voronezh, Penza regions and others. The species are of high ornamental value, which is another factor besides the narrow ecological amplitude of the plants. G. tenuis, I. halophila, and D. incarnata are demanding to moisture and soil fertility, have high numbers, and create aspects. In the cenopopulations of the studied plants a process of self-renewal proceeds, which is not hampered by anthropogenic factors, as the tract is far from settlements and is swampy in some places. The morphometric indices of the rare species correspond to their biology. The ontogenetic status of the species cenopopulations is characterized by a single-vertex spectrum with a high proportion of individuals of generative fractions: 49.4% for G. tenuis, 40.0% for D. incarnate, and 62.2% for I. halophila, respectively. According to T. A. Rabotnov’s classification, the cenopopopulations of the studied species are normal incomplete-membered. According to L. A. Zhivotovsky’s delta–omega classification, the cenopopulations of G. tenuis and D. incarnata are old; while that of I. halophile is aging. The studied cenopopulations of rare plants are stable in time and space. It is necessary to declare the tract “Bolshiye Mochazhiny” a natural monument of regional importance.

Rhizosphere microbiome engineering of Triticum aestivum L.

ABSTRACT Root-associated microbiomes (RAMs) are complex microbial communities, essential for plant growth and development. The RAMs interact with the roots, maintain the root architecture, protect plants from a plethora of pathogens and biotic and abiotic stress and intensify nutrient uptake, i.e., improve plant growth and yield. A wide variety of microbial populations is usually found in the rhizosphere. Plant exudates also play a significant role in the establishment of rhizospheric microbial communities. This study deals with the approach of microbiome engineering to enhance the development of crops such as wheat. We focus on the idea of soil engineering to foster beneficial microbial communities that can improve plant growth effectively and reduce competition by gradually decreasing the number of pathogenic communities. This technique enables plants to thrive under adequate edaphic conditions. In the current study, the rhizosphere of Triticum aestivum L. was analyzed over four generations. Variations in the microbial diversity between batches one to four (B1-B4) were analyzed with regard to their capacity to improve plant growth. Microbial species richness in the rhizosphere microbiome of wheat was recorded in all investigated plant batches (B0 to B4). The major phyla across the four plant batches were Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi and Actinobacteria. Jaccard Similarity Coefficient indicated similarity between the batches B4-treated and B4-control. Taxonomic distances between the bacterial communities of Batches B0, B1 and B4 were the highest. Significant improvements in the growth parameters of plants treated with a microbiome-containing soil solution of the previous generation (batch) were recorded. Subsequently, their microbiome was also engineered, which facilitated plant growth effectively.

Native recovery or expansive threat? Past and predicted distribution of Trapa natans L. s. l. on northern limit of species’ range – Handout for species management

Global changes are responsible for the movement of species. While many research emphasize the spread of alien or invasive alien species, the rapid spread of rare, native species is poorly study. In our studies, we focused on Trapa natans, a species that is considered a strictly protected plant species in Europe, but is considered an alien invasive species in North America and Australia. The aim of the study was to analyze the historical and current occurrence of T. natans at the northern range of this species (Poland, Central Europe) and, based on future climate projections (wordClim), to determine its potential spread in Europe by modeling the occupation area of available habitats in Europe. We found a rapid spread of T. natans in Poland associated with increasing temperatures. Statistical analyzes showed that the mean temperature of the warmest quarter and precipitation of the driest month are the most important climatic variables determining habitat suitability for T. natans. The model for 2021–2040 showed an expansion of habitats suitable for the species to the north (Great Britain and Ireland, Scandinavia), to the east (Germany and Central Europe), to the northeast (Eastern Europe, e.g., Lithuania, Latvia), and to the south (Italy and Southern Europe). In the next two time periods (2041–––2060 and 2061–––2080), the models showed that the entire European area is suitable for colonization by the species, with the exception of the high mountain regions and Spain. T. natans is a representative species whose distribution and recent range changes allow us to track aquatic species feedbacks to climate change in the species’ home range and is a good ecological indicator of global warming. The message for conservationists is that the status of species classified as rare needs to be urgently reviewed.

Sistem Penyiram Otomatis Berbasis IOT Smart Home Pada Tanaman Rumah Menggunakan Arduino Atmega 328P

A greenhouse is a building with a frame or shaped like bubbles, covered with clear or translucent material that can transmit light optimally for production and protect plants from climatic conditions that are detrimental to plant growth. Research on an Arduino-based plant watering system in a plant house aims to design, create, and test a system to be able to carry out watering. The method used in research on an IOT smartphone-based plant watering system uses an ATMEGA 328P Arduino. There are several stages that need to be paid attention to, namely the design stage, the construction/manufacturing stage, and the installation stage. Next is the testing of products that have been made using Arduino and ESP8266. Watering can be scheduled so that it is done on time. The system can do watering; watering is done automatically with a working voltage of 208–214 VAC and 15 VDC and a constant Arduino pin voltage of 4.8 VDC. By carrying out tests on watering plants, based on the test results, the Arduino-based automatic plant watering system in the plant house can work well according to design.

Functional Characterization of Rhizobia for Multiple Plant Growth Promoting Activities

This research focuses on the functional characterization of 19 rhizobia strains isolated from Southern Rajasthan's Udaipur and Dungarpur districts, with an emphasis on their multiple Plant Growth Promoting (PGP) activities. Through a series of tests encompassing Indole-3-Acetic Acid (IAA) production, siderophore production, phosphate solubilization, ammonia production, and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) production, this study elucidates the diverse PGP potential of these rhizobia strains. The results showcase variations in IAA production, highlighting their ability to enhance root development and overall plant growth, while also revealing strains capable of siderophore production, indicating potential iron uptake facilitation. Furthermore, some strains exhibit phosphate solubilization, ammonia production, and HCN production capabilities, signifying their potential to improve nutrient availability and protect plants from pathogens. These findings underscore the promise of harnessing the PGP activities of these rhizobia strains for sustainable agricultural practices in Southern Rajasthan and similar agroecological regions, with implications for enhanced crop yields and soil health.

Картографирование лесных насаждений Волгоградской области по данным ДЗЗ с использованием индексов BSFI и NDWI

The possibilities of adjusting the results of mapping wood plantations based on the bi-seasonal forest index (BSFI) according to Sentinel-2 data and calculated seasonal composite images of the NDWI index maximum values are presented. It was found out that with using a seasonal composite image of the mentioned values, calculated with the NIR and SWIR2 ranges, the manufacturer`s accuracy in raster cross-validation increases from 82,5 to 92,8 %. At the same time, the initial areas of wood zones decreased by 7 %, and those of false identifications shrank by 67 %. Comparison of mapping results with statistical data showed small differences in areas with a large number of natural forest plantations (in 18 of 33 areas they do not exceed 15 % of the design ones). Moreover, in lands with a large number of protective green spaces, discrepancies can reach up to 210 % of the design values. It is shown that significant distinctions in design and actual mapping materials can be associated with poor preservation, fires, illegal logging, as well as problems of accounting protective forest plantings. A fairly accurate method for adjusting BSFI was proposed (the manufacturer’s accuracy increased from 82,5 to 92,8 %) based on the maximum composite NDWI image calculated using the NIR and SWIR2 bands of the Sentilel-2A and Sentilel-2B satellites in a test area within the Volgograd region

Combined analysis of metagenome and transcriptome revealed the adaptive mechanism of different golden Camellia species in karst regions

Camellia sect. Chrysantha is an important rare and protected plant species. Some golden Camellia species grow in karst soil while others grow in acidic soil. In order to study the adaptation mechanism of golden Camellia to the karst environment, four species of golden Camellia growing in the karst soil (Camellia pubipetala, Camellia perpetua, Camellia grandis, and Camellia limonia) and four species growing in the acidic soil (Camellia nitidissima, Camellia euphlebia, Camellia tunghinensis, and Camellia parvipetala) were selected for this study. Combining the metagenome and transcriptome, the structure and function of the rhizosphere microbial communities and the gene expression in roots of golden Camellia were analyzed. The results showed that the rhizosphere microbial communities in different golden Camellia were significantly different in abundance of Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Candidatus_Rokubacteria, Nitrospirae, Planctomycetes, and Candidatus_Tectomicrobia. The proportion of Candidatus_Rokubacteria was significantly higher in the rhizosphere soil of four species of golden Camellia grown in karst areas, compared to C. nitidissima, C. euphlebia, and C. tunghinensis. The linear discriminant analysis Effect Size showed that C. parvipetala was similar to karst species in the enrichment of ABC transporters and quorum sensing. During the transcriptome analysis, numerous upregulated genes in four karst species, including CYP81E, CHS, F3H, C12RT1, NAS, and CAD, were found to be enriched in the secondary metabolite synthesis pathway in the KEGG library, when compared to C. tunghinensis. This study provides information for plant adaptation mechanisms on the rhizosphere soil microbial composition and gene expression in secondary metabolic pathways to karst habitats and its distribution in karst areas.

Complete chloroplast genome and phylogenetic analysis of Meliosma oldhamii Miq. ex Maxim. (Sabiaceae)

Meliosma oldhamii Miq. is a deciduous arbor and a member of Sabiaceae. It is one of the rare and protected plants with outstanding ornamental and economic value in Jiangsu, China. In addition to the resource values indicated above, there are numerous other elements that require additional research, including the chloroplast (cp) genomic information. In this work, the complete cp genome sequence of M. oldhamii was assembled and characterized for the first time. The complete cp genome of M. oldhamii was 159,950 base pair (bp) in length, including a large single-copy (LSC) region of 87,147 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,015 bp, and the inverted repeats (IRs) region of 27,394 bp. It contains 131 genes, including 37 tRNA genes, eight rRNA genes, 85 protein-coding genes, and one pseudogene. The overall GC content of M. oldhamii cp genome was 37.95%. The placement of M. oldhamii in the phylogenetic tree constructed using the complete cp genome is largely congruent with previous studies. The clustering of Meliosma is non-monophyletic, aligns more closely with existing morphological taxonomic studies, thereby enhancing the scholarly and scientific nature of this research.