Valorization of Camellia oleifera oil processing byproducts to value-added chemicals and biobased materials: A critical review

The C.oleifera oil processing industry generates large amounts of solid wastes,including C.oleifera shell(COS)and C.oleifera cake(COC).Distinct from generally acknowledged lignocellulosic biomass(corn stover,bamboo,birch,etc.),Camellia wastes contain diverse bioactive substances in addition to the abundant lignocellulosic components,and thus,the biorefinery utilization of C.oleifera processing byproducts involves complicated processing technologies.This reviewfirst summarizes various technologies for extracting and converting the main components in C.oleifera oil processing byproducts into value-added chemicals and biobased materials,as well as their potential applications.Microwave,ultrasound,and Soxhlet extractions are compared for the extraction of functional bioactive components(tannin,flavonoid,saponin,etc.),while solvothermal conversion and pyrolysis are discussed for the conversion of lignocellulosic components into value-added chemicals.The application areas of these chemicals according to their properties are introduced in detail,including utilizing antioxidant and anti-in-flammatory properties of the bioactive substances for the specific application,as well as drop-in chemicals for the substitution of unrenewable fossil fuel-derived products.In addition to chemical production,biochar fabricated from COS and its applications in thefields of adsorption,supercapacitor,soil remediation and wood composites are comprehensively reviewed and discussed.Finally,based on the compositions and structural characteristics of C.oleifera byproducts,the development of full-component valorization strategies and the expansion of the appli-cationfields are proposed.

Spatio-temporal variation of water salinity in mangroves revealed by continuous monitoring and its relationship to floristic diversity

Salinity is among the most critical factors limiting the growth and species distribution of coastal plants.Water salinity in estuarine ecosystems varies temporally and spatially,but the variation patterns across different time scales and salinity fluctuation have rarely been quantified.The effects of salinity on floristic diversity in mangroves are not fully understood due to the temporal and spatial heterogeneity of salinity.In this study,we monitored water salinity at an interval of 10-min over one year in three mangrove catchment areas representing the outer part,middle part,and inner part respectively of Dongzhai Bay,Hainan,China.The number of mangrove community types and dominant mangrove species of the three catchment areas were also investigated.We found that the diurnal variation and dry-season intra-month variation in water salinity were driven by tidal cycles.The seasonal variation in water salinity was mainly driven by rainfall with higher salinity occurring in the dry season and lower salinity occurring in the wet season.Spatially,water salinity was highest at the outer part,intermediate at the middle part,and lowest at the inner part of the bay.The intra-month and annual fluctuations of water salinity were highest at the middle part and lowest at the outer part of the bay.The number of mangrove community types and dominant species were lowest at the outer part,intermediate at the middle part,and highest at the inner part of the bay.These results suggest that the temporal variation of water salinity in mangroves is driven by different factors at different time scales and therefore it is necessary to measure water salinity at different time scales to get a complete picture of the saline environment that mangroves experience.Spatially,lower salinity levels benefit mangrove species richness within a bay landscape,however,further research is needed to distinguish the effects of salinity fluctuation and salinity level in affecting mangrove species richness.

Effects of urbanization and forest type on species composition and diversity,forest characteristics,biomass carbon sink,and their associations in Changchun,Northeast China:implications for urban carbon stock improvement

Differences in forest attributes and carbon sequestration of each organ and layer between broadleaved and conifer forests of central and outer urban areas are not well-defined,hindering the precise management of urban forests and improvement of function.To clarify the effect of two forest types with different urbanization intensities,we determined differences in vegetation composition and diversity,structural traits,and carbon stocks of 152 plots(20 m×20 m)in urban park forests in Changchun,which had the largest green quantity and carbon density effectiveness.We found that 1.1-fold thicker and healthier trees,and 1.6-to 2.0-fold higher,healthier,denser,and more various shrubs but with sparser trees and herbs occurred in the central urban forests(p<0.05)than in the outer forests.The conifer forests exhibited 30–70%obviously higher tree aboveground carbon sequestration(including stem and leaf)and 20%bigger trees,especially in the outer forests(p<0.05).In contrast,1.1-to 1.5-fold higher branch stocks,healthier and more diverse trees were found in broadleaved forests of both the inner and outer forests(p<0.05).Plant size and dominant species had similarly important roles in carbon stock improvement,especially big-sized woody plants and Pinus tabuliformis.In addition,a higher number of deciduous or needle species positively affected the broadleaved forest of the central urban area and conifer forest of the outer urban area,respectively.These findings can be used to guide precise management and accelerate the improvement of urban carbon function in Northeast China in the future.

Comprehensive analyses of the proteome and ubiquitome revealed mechanism of high temperature accelerating petal abscission in tree peony

Tree peony(Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews)is a well-known ornamental plant with high economic value,but the short fluorescence is a key obstacle to its ornamental value and industry development.High temperature accelerates flower senescence and abscission,but the associated mechanisms are poorly understood.In this study,the tandem mass tag(TMT)proteome and label-free quantitative ubiquitome from tree peony cut flowers treated with 20℃for 0 h(RT0),20℃or 28℃for 60 h(RT60 or HT60)were examined based on morphological observation,respectively.Totally,6970 proteins and 1545 lysine ubiquitinated(Kub)sites in 844 proteins were identified.Hydrophilic residues(such as glutamate and aspartate)neighboring the Kub sites were in preference,and 36.01%of the Kub sites were located on the protein surface.The differentially expressed proteins(DEPs)and Kub-DEPs in HT60 vs RT60 were mainly enriched in ribosomal protein,protein biosynthesis,secondary metabolites biosynthesis,flavonoid metabolism,carbohydrate catabolism,and auxin biosynthesis and signaling revealed by GO and KEGG analysis,accompanying the increase of endogenous abscisic acid(ABA)accumulation and decrease of endogenous indoleacetic acid(IAA)level.Additionally,the expression patterns of six enzymes(SAMS,ACO,YUC,CHS,ANS and PFK)putatively with Kub modifications were analyzed by proteome and real-time quantitative RT-PCR.The cell-free degradation assays showed PsSAMS and PsACO proteins could be degraded via the 26 S proteasome system in tree peony flowers.Finally,a working model was proposed for the acceleration of flower senescence and abscission by high temperature.In summary,all results contributed to understanding the mechanism of flower senescence induced by high temperature and prolonging fluorescence in tree peony.

Afforestation with an age-sequence of Mongolian pine plantation promotes soil microbial residue accumulation in the Horqin Sandy Land, China

Land use change affects the balance of organic carbon(C)reserves and the global C cycle.Microbial residues are essential constituents of stable soil organic C(SOC).However,it remains unclear how microbial residue changes over time following afforestation.In this study,16-,23-,52-,and 62-year-old Mongolian pine stands and 16-year-old cropland were studied in the Horqin Sandy Land,China.We analyzed changes in SOC,amino sugar content,and microbial parameters to assess how microbial communities influence soil C transformation and preservation.The results showed that SOC storage increased with stand age in the early stage of afforestation but remained unchanged at about 1.27-1.29 kg/m2 after 52 a.Moreover,there were consistent increases in amino sugars and microbial residues with increasing stand age.As stand age increased from 16 to 62 a,soil pH decreased from 6.84 to 5.71,and the concentration of total amino sugars increased from 178.53 to 509.99 mg/kg.A significant negative correlation between soil pH and the concentration of specific and total amino sugars was observed,indicating that the effects of soil acidification promote amino sugar stabilization during afforestation.In contrast to the Mongolian pine plantation of the same age,the cropland accumulated more SOC and microbial residues because of fertilizer application.Across Mongolian pine plantation with different ages,there was no significant change in calculated contribution of bacterial or fungal residues to SOC,suggesting that fungi were consistently the dominant contributors to SOC with increasing time.Our results indicate that afforestation in the Horqin Sandy Land promotes efficient microbial growth and residue accumulation in SOC stocks and has a consistent positive impact on SOC persistence.

The role of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A in the formation of long-term memory in Bactrocera dorsalis

The cAMP-dependent protein kinase A(PKA)signaling pathway has long been considered critical for long-term memory(LTM)formation.Previous studies have mostly focused on the role of PKA signaling in LTM induction by multiple spaced conditioning with less attention to LTM induction by a single conditioning.Here,we conducted behavioral-pharmacology,enzyme immunoassay and RNA interference experiments to study the role of the PKA signaling pathway in LTM formation in the agricultural pest Bactrocera dorsalis,which has a strong memory capacity allowing it to form a two-day memory even from a single conditioning trial.We found that either blocking or activating PKA prior to conditioning pretreatment affected multiple spaced LTM,and conversely,they did not affect LTM formed by single conditioning.This was further confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)and silencing of the protein kinase regulatory subunit 2 and catalytic subunit 1.Taken together,these results suggest that activating PKA during memory acquisition helps to induce the LTM formed by multiple spaced conditioning but not by a single conditioning.Our findings challenge the conserved role of PKA signaling in LTM,which provides a basis for the greater diversity of molecular mechanisms underlying LTM formation across species,as well as possible functional and evolutionary implications.

Effects of thinning and understory removal on water use efficiency of Pinus massoniana:evidence from photosynthetic capacity and stable carbon isotope analyses

Understanding the relationship between forest management and water use efficiency(WUE)is important for evaluating forest adaptability to climate change.However,the effects of thinning and understory removal on WUE and its key controlling processes are not well understood,which limits our comprehension of the physiological mechanisms of various management practices.In this study,four forest management measures(no thinning:NT;understory removal:UR;light thinning:LT;and heavy thinning:HT)were carried out in Pinus massoniana plantations in a subtropical region of China.Photosynthetic capacity and needle stable carbon isotope composition(δ^(13)C)were measured to assess instantaneous water use efficiency(WUE_(inst))and long-term water use efficiency(WUE_(i)).Multiple regression models and structural equation modelling(SEM)identified the effects of soil properties and physiological performances on WUE_(inst)and WUE_(i).The results show that WUE_(inst)values among the four treatments were insignificant.However,compared with the NT stand(35.8μmol·mol^(-1)),WUE_(i)values significantly increased to 41.7μmol·mol^(-1)in the UR,50.1μmol·mol^(-1)in the LT and 46.6μmol·mol^(-1)in HT treatments,largely explained by photosynthetic capacity and soil water content.Understory removal did not change physiological performance(needle water potential and photosynthetic capacity).Thinning increased the net photosynthetic rate(A_n)but not stomatal conductance(g_s)or predawn needle water potential(ψ_(pd)),implying that the improvement in water use efficiency for thinned stands was largely driven by radiation interception than by soil water availability.In general,thinning may be an appropriate management measure to promote P.massoniana WUE to cope with seasonal droughts under future extreme climates.

An aqueous BiI_(3)-Zn battery with dual mechanisms of Zn^(2+)(de)intercalation and I^(-)/I_(2)redox

The development of aqueous battery with dual mechanisms is now arousing more and more interest.The dual mechanisms of Zn^(2+)(de)intercalation and I^(-)/I_(2)redox bring unexpected effects.Herein,differing from previous studies using Zn I_(2)additive,this work designs an aqueous Bi I_(3)-Zn battery with selfsupplied I^(-).Ex situ tests reveal the conversion of Bi I_(3)into Bi(discharge)and Bi OI(charge)at the 1st cycle and the dissolved I^(-)in electrolyte.The active I^(-)species enhances the specific capacity and discharge medium voltage of electrode as well as improves the generation of Zn dendrite and by-product.Furthermore,the porous hard carbon is introduced to enhance the electronic/ionic conductivity and adsorb iodine species,proven by experimental and theoretical studies.Accordingly,the well-designed Bi I_(3)-Zn battery delivers a high reversible capacity of 182 m A h g^(-1)at 0.2 A g^(-1),an excellent rate capability with 88 m A h g^(-1)at 10 A g^(-1),and an impressive cyclability with 63%capacity retention over 20 K cycles at 10 A g^(-1).An excellent electrochemical performance is obtained even at a high mass loading of 6 mg cm^(-2).Moreover,a flexible quasi-solid-state Bi I_(3)-Zn battery exhibits satisfactory battery performances.This work provides a new idea for designing high-performance aqueous battery with dual mechanisms.

Multi-omics analyses provide insights into the evolutionary history and the synthesis of medicinal components of the Chinese wingnut

Chinese wingnut(Pterocarya stenoptera)is a medicinally and economically important tree species within the family Juglandaceae.However,the lack of high-quality reference genome has hindered its in-depth research.In this study,we successfully assembled its chromosome-level genome and performed multiomics analyses to address its evolutionary history and synthesis of medicinal components.A thorough examination of genomes has uncovered a significant expansion in the Lateral Organ Boundaries Domain gene family among the winged group in Juglandaceae.This notable increase may be attributed to their frequent exposure to flood-prone environments.After further differentiation between Chinese wingnut and Cyclocarya paliurus,significant positive selection occurred on the genes of NADH dehydrogenase related to mitochondrial aerobic respiration in Chinese wingnut,enhancing its ability to cope with waterlogging stress.Comparative genomic analysis revealed Chinese wingnut evolved more unique genes related to arginine synthesis,potentially endowing it with a higher capacity to purify nutrient-rich water bodies.Expansion of terpene synthase families enables the production of increased quantities of terpenoid volatiles,potentially serving as an evolved defense mechanism against herbivorous insects.Through combined transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis,we identified the candidate genes involved in the synthesis of terpenoid volatiles.Our study offers essential genetic resources for Chinese wingnut,unveiling its evolutionary history and identifying key genes linked to the production of terpenoid volatiles.

Conservation genomics provides insights into genetic resilience and adaptation of the endangered Chinese hazelnut, Corylus chinensis

Global climate change has increased concerns regarding biodiversity loss.However,many key conservation issues still required further research,including demographic history,deleterious mutation load,adaptive evolution,and putative introgression.Here we generated the first chromosome-level genome of the endangered Chinese hazelnut,Corylus chinensis,and compared the genomic signatures with its sympatric widespread C.kwechowensis-C yunnanensis complex.We found large genome rearrangements across all Corylus species and identified species-specific expanded gene families that may be involved in adaptation.Population genomics revealed that both C.chinensis and the C.kwechowensis-C.yunnanensis complex had diverged into two genetic lineages,forming a consistent pattern of southwestern-northern differentiation.Population size of the narrow southwestern lineages of both species have decreased continuously since the late Miocene,whereas the widespread northern lineages have remained stable(C.chinensis) or have even recovered from population bottlenecks(C.kwechowensis-C.yunnanensis complex) during the Quaternary.Compared with C.kwechowensis-C. yunnanensis complex,C.chinensis showed significantly lower genomic diversity and higher inbreeding level.However,C.chinensis carried significantly fewer deleterious mutations than C.kwechowensis-C. yunnanensis complex,as more effective purging selection reduced the accumulation of homozygous variants.We also detected signals of positive selection and adaptive introgression in different lineages,which facilitated the accumulation of favorable variants and formation of local adaptation.Hence,both types of selection and exogenous introgression could have mitigated inbreeding and facilitated survival and persistence of C.chinensis.Overall,our study provides critical insights into lineage differentiation,local adaptation,and the potential for future recovery of endangered trees.

Microenvironmental effects on growth response of Pinus massoniana to climate at its northern boundary in the Tongbai Mountains,Central China

The Tongbai Mountains is an ecologically sensi-tive region and the northern boundary of Pinus massoniana Lamb.To analyze the effect of different microenvironments on tree growth response to climate factors,we developed standard chronologies for earlywood width(EWW),late-wood width(LWW),and total ring width(TRW)of P.massoniana at two sampling sites on slopes with different orientations,then analyzed characteristics of the chronolo-gies and their correlations with climate variables from five stations in the region and with a regional normalized differ-ence vegetation index(NDVI).Statistical results showed that the TRW/EWW/LWW chronology consistency and charac-teristics(mean sensitivity,signal to noise ratio,expressed population signal)for trees growing on the southeastern slope were much higher than for trees on the northeastern slope.Correlations indicated that temperature in current March and August has a significant positive effect on TRW/EWW/LWW formation,and the effect on the northeastern slope was weaker than on the southeastern slope.Compared to temperature,precipitation has more complicated effects on tree growth,but the effect on the northeastern slope was also generally weaker than on the southeastern slope.Step-wise linear regression analyses showed that temperature in August was the main limiting factor at the two sampling sites.Similarly,the response of tree growth on the southeast-ern slope as determined by the NDVI is better than on the northeastern slope,and the TRW/EWW/LWW chronologies for the southeastern slope explained over 50%of the total NDVI variances in June.Overall,the results indicate that the difference in the climate response of P.massoniana at two sampling sites is clearly caused by differences in the microenvironment,and such differences should be properly considered in future studies of forest dynamics and climate reconstructions.

Coupling of Adhesion and Anti‑Freezing Properties in Hydrogel Electrolytes for Low‑Temperature Aqueous‑Based Hybrid Capacitors

Solid-state zinc-ion capacitors are emerging as promising candidates for large-scale energy storage owing to improved safety,mechanical and thermal stability and easy-to-direct stacking.Hydrogel electrolytes are appealing solid-state electrolytes because of eco-friendliness,high conductivity and intrinsic flexibility.However,the electrolyte/electrode interfacial contact and anti-freezing properties of current hydrogel electrolytes are still challenging for practical applications of zinc-ion capacitors.Here,we report a class of hydrogel electrolytes that couple high interfacial adhesion and anti-freezing performance.The synergy of tough hydrogel matrix and chemical anchorage enables a well-adhered interface between hydrogel electrolyte and electrode.Meanwhile,the cooperative solvation of ZnCl2 and LiCl hybrid salts renders the hydrogel electrolyte high ionic conductivity and mechanical elasticity simultaneously at low temperatures.More significantly,the Zn||carbon nanotubes hybrid capacitor based on this hydrogel electrolyte exhibits low-temperature capacitive performance,delivering high-energy density of 39 Wh kg^(-1)at-60°C with capacity retention of 98.7%over 10,000 cycles.With the benefits of the well-adhered electrolyte/electrode interface and the anti-freezing hydrogel electrolyte,the Zn/Li hybrid capacitor is able to accommodate dynamic deformations and function well under 1000 tension cycles even at-60°C.This work provides a powerful strategy for enabling stable operation of low-temperature zinc-ion capacitors.

Can urban forests provide acoustic refuges for birds?Investigating the influence of vegetation structure and anthropogenic noise on bird sound diversity

As a crucial component of terrestrial ecosystems,urban forests play a pivotal role in protecting urban biodiversity by providing suitable habitats for acoustic spaces.Previous studies note that vegetation structure is a key factor influencing bird sounds in urban forests;hence,adjusting the frequency composition may be a strategy for birds to avoid anthropogenic noise to mask their songs.However,it is unknown whether the response mechanisms of bird vocalizations to vegetation structure remain consistent despite being impacted by anthropogenic noise.It was hypothesized that anthropogenic noise in urban forests occupies the low-frequency space of bird songs,leading to a possible reshaping of the acoustic niches of forests,and the vegetation structure of urban forests is the critical factor that shapes the acoustic space for bird vocalization.Passive acoustic monitoring in various urban forests was used to monitor natural and anthropogenic noises,and sounds were classified into three acoustic scenes(bird sounds,human sounds,and bird-human sounds)to determine interconnections between bird sounds,anthropogenic noise,and vegetation structure.Anthropogenic noise altered the acoustic niche of urban forests by intruding into the low-frequency space used by birds,and vegetation structures related to volume(trunk volume and branch volume)and density(number of branches and leaf area index)significantly impact the diversity of bird sounds.Our findings indicate that the response to low and high frequency signals to vegetation structure is distinct.By clarifying this relationship,our results contribute to understanding of how vegetation structure influences bird sounds in urban forests impacted by anthropogenic noise.

A New Micropropagation Technology of Tilia amurensis:In VitroMicropropagation of Mature Zygotic Embryos and the Establishment of a PlantRegeneration System

Tilia amurensis is an economically valuable broadleaf tree species in Northeast China.The production of highqualityT.amurensis varieties at commercial scales has been greatly limited by the low germination rates.Thereis thus a pressing need to develop an organogenesis protocol for in vitro propagation of T.amurensis to alleviate ashortage of high-quality T.amurensis seedlings.Here,we established a rapid in vitro propagation system forT.amurensis from mature zygotic embryos and analyzed the effects of plant growth regulators and culture mediain different stages.We found that Woody plant medium(WPM)was the optimal primary culture medium formature zygotic embryos.The highest callus induction percentage(68.76%)and number of axillary buds induced(3.2)were obtained in WPM+0.89μmol/L 6-benzyladenine(6-BA)+0.46μmol/L kinetin(KT)+0.25μmol/Lindole-3-butryic acid(IBA)+1.44μmol/L gibberellin A_(3)(GA_(3)).The multiple shoot bud development achievedthe highest percentage(83.32%)in the Murashige and Skoog(MS)+2.22μmol/L 6-BA+0.25μmol/L IBA+1.44μmol/L GA_(3).The rooting percentage(96.70%)was highest in 1/2 MS medium+1.48μmol/L IBA.Thesurvival percentage of transplanting plantlets was 82.22%in soil:vermiculite:perlite(5:3:1).Our study is the firstto establish an effective organogenesis protocol for T.amurensis using mature zygotic embryos.

Construction of apricot variety search engine based on deep learning

Apricot has a long history of cultivation and has many varieties and types. The traditional variety identification methods are timeconsuming and labor-consuming, posing grand challenges to apricot resource management. Tool development in this regard will help researchers quickly identify variety information. This study photographed apricot fruits outdoors and indoors and constructed a dataset that can precisely classify the fruits using a U-net model (F-score:99%), which helps to obtain the fruit's size, shape, and color features. Meanwhile, a variety search engine was constructed, which can search and identify variety from the database according to the above features. Besides, a mobile and web application (ApricotView) was developed, and the construction mode can be also applied to other varieties of fruit trees.Additionally, we have collected four difficult-to-identify seed datasets and used the VGG16 model for training, with an accuracy of 97%, which provided an important basis for ApricotView. To address the difficulties in data collection bottlenecking apricot phenomics research, we developed the first apricot database platform of its kind (ApricotDIAP, http://apricotdiap.com/) to accumulate, manage, and publicize scientific data of apricot.

Alcohol solvent effect on the self-assembly behaviors of lignin oligomers

The interactions between lignin oligomers and solvents determine the behaviors of lignin oligomers self-assembling into uniform lignin nanoparticles(LNPs).Herein,several alcohol solvents,which readily interact with the lignin oligomers,were adopted to study their effects during solvent shifting process for LNPs’production.The lignin oligomers with widely distributed molecular weight and abundant guaiacyl units were extracted from wood waste(mainly consists of pine wood),exerting outstanding self-assembly capability.Uniform and spherical LNPs were generated in H_(2)O-n-propanol cosolvent,whereas irregular LNPs were obtained in H_(2)O-methanol cosolvent.The unsatisfactory self-assembly performance of the lignin oligomers in H_(2)O-methanol cosolvent could be attributed to two aspects.On one hand,for the initial dissolution state,the distinguishing Hansen solubility parameter and polarity between methanol solvent and lignin oligomers resulted in the poor dispersion of the lignin oligomers.On the other hand,strong hydrogen bonds between methanol solvent and lignin oligomers during solvent shifting process,hindered the interactions among the lignin oligomers for self-assembly.

Circumscription of the East Asia clade (Apiaceae subfamily Apioideae) and the taxonomic placements of several problematic genera

The East Asia(or Physospermopsis) clade was recognized in previous molecular phylogenetic investigations into the higher-level relationships of Apiaceae subfamily Apioideae. The composition of this clade, the phylogenetic relationships among its constituent taxa, and the placement of species previously determined to be problematic have yet to be resolved. Herein, nr DNA ITS sequences were obtained for150 accessions of Apioideae, representing species whose distributions are in East Asia or genera having one or more species included within the East Asia clade. These data, along with published ITS sequences from other Apioideae(for 3678 accessions altogether), were subjected to maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses. The results show that the East Asia clade contains representatives of 11currently recognized genera: Hansenia, Hymenolaena, Keraymonia, Sinolimprichtia, Acronema, Hymenidium, Physospermopsis, Pimpinella, Sinocarum, Tongoloa, and Trachydium. However, the latter seven genera have members falling outside of the East Asia clade, including the generic types of all except Tongoloa. Within the clade, the species comprising these seven genera are widely intermingled, greatly increasing confusion among relationships than previously realized. The problematic species Physospermopsis cuneata is confirmed as falling within the East Asia clade, whereas P. rubrinervis allies with the generic type in tribe Pleurospermeae. Physospermopsis kingdon-wardii is confirmed as a member of the genus Physospermopsis, whereas the generic attributions of P. cuneata and Tongoloa stewardii remain unclear. Two species of Sinocarum(S. filicinum and S. wolffianum) are transferred into the genus Meeboldia. This is the most comprehensive molecular phylogenetic investigation of the East Asia clade to date, and while the results increase systematic understanding of the clade, they also highlight the need for further studies of one of the most taxonomically intractable groups in Apioideae.

Estimation of Potential Habitat of Caragana acanthophylla in Xinjiang Based on Maximum Entropy Model

[Objectives]To determine the potential habitat range of Caragana acanthophylla in Xinjiang.[Methods]The known distribution points of C.acanthophylla were used as samples,and a MaxEnt model was developed based on their climatic variables to identify key environmental factors affecting the potential habitats of C.acanthophylla through jackknife method and construction of a response relationship between representative variables and habitat suitability;the suitability of habitats for C.acanthophylla in Xinjiang was evaluated based on the output results of the model.[Results](i)The accuracy of the model verified by AUC curve was 0.971,indicating that the potential habitats of C.acanthophylla in Xinjiang predicted by MaxEnt model were highly credible.(ii)The optimum climatic characteristics for the distribution of C.acanthophylla in Xinjiang were:isothermality 18.8%-34%,minimum temperature of coldest month-30℃to-13℃,mean temperature of coldest quarter-18℃ to-4℃,annual precipitation 80-410 mm,precipitation of driest month 0-25 mm,precipitation of driest quarter 0-82 mm,and precipitation of coldest quarter 0-75 mm.(iii)The total potential distribution area of C.acanthophylla in Xinjiang was modeled to be 1.03×10^(5) km^(2),of which 8.54×10^(3)km^(2) was high suitability area,mainly in the front mountain belt of the north slope of Tianshan Mountain in Urumqi City,Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture,Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture,and Yili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture and the front mountain belt of Barluk Mountain in Tacheng Prefecture.[Conclusions]This study is of great significance for the future scientific management,regeneration,vegetation restoration and ecological protection of C.acanthophylla.

Identification and Molecular Characterization of the Alkaloid Biosynthesis Gene Family in Dendrobium catenatum

As one of the main active components of Dendrobium catenatum, alkaloids have high medicinal value. The physicochemicalproperties, conserved domains and motifs, phylogenetic analysis, and cis-acting elements of the genefamily members in the alkaloid biosynthesis pathway of D. catenatum were analyzed by bioinformatics, and theexpression of the genes in different years and tissues was analyzed by qRT-PCR. There are 16 gene families,including 25 genes, in the D. catenatum alkaloid biosynthesis pathway. The analysis of conserved domains andmotifs showed that the types, quantities, and orders of domains and motifs were similar among members ofthe same family, but there were significant differences among families. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that thegene family members showed some evolutionary conservation. Cis-acting element analysis revealed that therewere a large number of light-responsive elements and MYB (v-myb avian myeloblastosis viral oncogene homolog)-related elements in these genes. qRT-PCR showed that expressions of gene family members involved in alkaloidsynthesis were different in different years and tissues of D. catenatum. This study provides a theoretical basisfor further exploration of the regulatory mechanisms of these genes in the alkaloid biosynthesis of D. catenatum.

The first mitogenome of Lauraceae(Cinnamomum chekiangense)

There are three distinct genetic systems in higher plants,the dominant nuclear genome and the semi-autonomous organelle genomes(plastids and mitochondria).In contrast to the conserved plastid genome(plastome),the plant mitochondrial genome(mitogenome)is characterized by an intriguing“evolutionary paradox”distinguished by a remarkably low mutation rate but with a significantly high rearrangement rate(Palmer and Herbon,1988;Lai et al.,2022).