Historical development of karst evergreen broadleaved forests in East Asia has shaped the evolution of a hemiparasitic genus Brandisia(Orobanchaceae)

Brandisia is a shrubby genus of about eight species distributed basically in East Asian evergreen broadleaved forests(EBLFs),with distribution centers in the karst regions of Yunnan,Guizhou,and Guangxi in southwestern China.Based on the hemiparasitic and more or less liana habits of this genus,we hypothesized that its evolution and distribution were shaped by the development of EBLFs there.To test our hypothesis,the most comprehensive phylogenies of Brandisia hitherto were constructed based on plastome and nuclear loci(nrDNA,PHYA and PHYB);then divergence time and ancestral areas were inferred using the combined nuclear loci dataset.Phylogenetic analyses reconfirmed that Brandisia is a member of Orobanchaceae,with unstable placements caused by nuclear-plastid incongruences.Within Brandisia,three major clades were well supported,corresponding to the three subgenera based on morphology.Brandisia was inferred to have originated in the early Oligocene(32.69 Mya)in the Eastern Himalayas-SW China,followed by diversification in the early Miocene(19.45 Mya)in karst EBLFs.The differentiation dates of Brandisia were consistent with the origin of keystone species of EBLFs in this region(e.g.,Fagaceae,Lauraceae,Theaceae,and Magnoliaceae)and the colonization of other characteristic groups(e.g.,Gesneriaceae and Mahonia).These findings indicate that the distribution and evolution of Brandisia were facilitated by the rise of the karst EBLFs in East Asia.In addition,the woody and parasitic habits,and pollination characteristics of Brandisia may also be the important factors affecting its speciation and dispersal.

Roles of species-preferential seed dispersal by ants and endozoochory in Melampyrum(Orobanchaceae)

Aims Melampyrum pratense and M.subalpinum are two myrmeco-chorous species,which possess similar habitat requirements and frequently occur together.Despite this,their population sizes differ markedly.Melampyrum pratense populations are usually very large,whereas M.subalpinum has rather small and isolated populations.We suggest that such an imbalance might be partially influenced by the difference in ant-mediated seed-removal rates.genus Melampyrum is considered to be exclusively myrme-cochorous,though to achieve the recent distribution of some Melampyrum species during the Holocene myrmecochory would be highly insufficient.We suggest that endozoochory takes place in the long-distance migration,whereas myrmecochory is important for the removal of seeds on a local scale.Methods For seed-preference analysis,M.pratense and M.subalpinum mixed seed samples were placed around Formica polyctena anthills.after a period of time,the remaining seeds of both species were counted for each sample.The results were analysed by analysis of variance and generalized linear mixed-effect model.To test myrmecochorous removal distances,M.pratense seeds were covered with fluorescent dactyloscopic powder and placed in the vicinity of a large ant trail.The area around the starting plot was searched in the dark using uV lED torchlight 7 h after the beginning.The distance from the starting plot was measured for each seed found.birds,rodents,leporine and a ruminant were fed with M.pratense seeds and fresh plants to test the possibility of endozoochorous dispersal of the species.animal droppings were searched for intact seeds.Important Findingsour field studies show that from mixed seed samples,containing both species,ants significantly preferred the seeds of M.pratense.This may be one of factors that has positive influence on M.prat-ense success in seed dispersal on mixed stands and consequently in the colonization of favourable sites.Experiments focusing on ant-mediated dispersal distance revealed that F.polyctena ants are able to move seeds over a distance of 36 m in only 7 h.This distance is among the furthest known myrmecochorous removals of forest plant seeds.a new Melampyrum seed disperser Oligolophus tridens(opiliones)was observed repeatedly.our pilot study documented that Melampyrum seeds are able to pass through the digestive tract of a cow intact.This suggests that large ruminants such as deer,bison or forest-grazing livestock may function as important long-distance dispersers of Melampyrum species.

Protective effect of Cistanche deserticola on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

Objective: Gentamicin(GM) is a commonly used aminoglycoside antibiotic, however, renal toxicity has limited its usage. The present study was designed to evaluate the ameliorative effect of Cistanche deserticola on GM-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.Methods: The nephrotoxicity in rats was induced by intraperitoneal administration of GM(100 mg/kg)for 10 consecutive days. Glomerular filtration rate, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine and kidney histopathology were detected to assess the GM-induced nephrotoxicity. The oxidative stress(catalase,superoxide dismutase, glutathione and malondialdehyde) was assessed. The inflammatory response(tumor necrosis factor-a, interleukin-6, myeloperoxidase and nuclear factor-kappa B) and apoptotic marker(Bax and Bcl-2) were also evaluated.Results: The results showed that water and 75% ethanol extracts of C. deserticola(named CDW and CDE,respectively)(100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) in combination with GM could recover the reduction of glomerular filtration rate and enhance the renal endogenous antioxidant capability induced by GM. The increase in the expression of renal inflammatory cytokines(tumor necrosis factor-a and interleukin-6), nuclear protein of nuclear factor-kappa B(p65) and the activity of myeloperoxidase induced by GM was significantly decreased upon CDW or CDE treatment. In addition, CDW or CDE treatment could decrease the Bax protein expression and increase the Bcl-2 protein expression in GM-induced nephrotoxicity in rats significantly.Conclusion: The study demonstrated that C. deserticola treatment could attenuate kidney dysfunction and structural damage in rats induced by GM through the reduction of inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis.

Chemical Constituents from Stems of Cistanches deserticola

Objective To study the chemical constituents in the stems or Cisrancnes deserticola. Methods The compounds were purified by various column chromatographic methods and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic （1 D, 2D NMR, IR, [α]D, and MS） and chemical analyses. Results Seven compounds were isolated and identified as kankanoside D1 （1）, ajugol （2）, cistanin （3）, uridine （4）, adenosine （5）, 6-deoxycatalpol （6）, and kankanoside D （7）. Conclusion Compound 1 is a new compound.

Comparative genomics of orobanchaceous species with different parasitic lifestyles reveals the origin and stepwise evolution of plant parasitism

Orobanchaceae is the largest family of parasiticplants,containing autotrophic and parasiticplants with all degrees of parasitism.This makes it byfar the best family for studying the origin and evolution of plant parasitism.Here we provide three high-quality genomes of orobanchaceous plants,the autotrophic Lindenbergia luchunensis and the holoparasitic plants Phelipanche aegyptiaca and Orobanche cumana.Phylogenomic analysis of these three genomes together with those previously published and the transcriptomes of other orobanchaceous species createda robust phylogeneticframework forOrobanchaceae.We found that an ancient whole-genome duplication(WGD;about 73.48million years ago),which occurred earlierthan theoriginof Orobanchaceae,mighthave contributed totheemergence of parasitism.However,no WGD events occurred in any lineage of orobanchaceous parasites except for Striga after divergence from their autotrophic common ancestor,suggesting that,in contrast with previous speculations,WGD is not associated with the emergence of holoparasitism.We detected evident convergent gene loss in all parasites within Orobanchaceae and between Orobanchaceae and dodder Cuscuta australis.The gene families in the orobanchaceous parasites showed a clear pattern of recent gains and expansions.The expanded gene families are enriched in functions related to the development of the haustorium,suggesting that recent gene family expansions may have facilitated the adaptation of orobanchaceous parasites to different hosts.This study illustrates a stepwise pattern in the evolution of parasitism in the orobanchaceous parasites and will facilitate future studieson parasitism and the control of parasitic plants in agriculture.