News
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2025-07-18Unveils Molecular Mechanism of Salt Tolerance in Tropical Island Plant Phyla nodifloraPhyla nodiflorapossesses natural resistance to multiple abiotic stresses, the mechanism underlyingits tolerance to environmental stresses, such as salinity, is almost entirely unknown. In present work, our genomic, transcriptomic and lysine acetylomic analyses provide profound insight into the molecular basis of the adaption of Phyla nodiflora t... Phyla nodiflora (L.) Greene, a perennial herbaceous vine belonging to the Verbenaceae family, is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical coastal regions. It is noted for its remarkable tolerance to salt and barren sandy soils. Additionally, Phyla nodiflora possesses strong covering ability, disease resistance, and adaptability, making it ...Read More -
2025-07-18Recent progress in the polysaccharides-prenylated flavonoids nanocomplexesIn this study, three prenylated flavonoids – icaritin (ICT), icariin (ICA), and icariside I (ICS) – were encapsulated in chitosan (CS) using a pH-driven method. The influence of the structural characteristics of these prenylated flavonoids on their encapsulation efficiency and their interaction with CS was investigated. Polysaccharides are natural nano-carrier of prenylated flavonoids. Prenylated flavonoids are a unique group characterized by prenyl side chain on the flavonoid skeleton. The pentenylation can enhance the bioactivity and bioaccumulation of the parent flavonoids. The application of prenylated flavonoids as nutraceutical ingredients in functional f...Read More -
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2025-07-09Scientists Propose Rhizosphere Engineering as a Scalable Solution to Climate-Induced Agricultural ChallengesThis paper explores how rhizosphere engineering, both plant-based and microbe-based, can be leveraged to enhance crop productivity, manage pests and diseases, and remediate contaminated environments under shifting climate conditions. It highlights the importance and urgency of moving beyond conventional input-intensive farming toward biologicall... Soil health and climate resilience are at the heart of global agricultural sustainability efforts. A collaborative team from Nitrogen Biogeochemistry Lab, led by Prof. LU Xiankai at South China Botanical Garden, published a cutting-edge review proposing rhizosphere engineering as a transformative solution to the multifaceted challenges facing fo...Read More -
2025-07-09Global distribution and influencing factors of plant-available phosphorus in (semi-)natural soilsDetermining plant-available phosphorus (P) concentration in soil is a prerequisite for identifying sites where P availability potentially limits plant growth and terrestrial carbon sequestration. However, global patterns and drivers of plant-available P in natural soils remain poorly understood. We constructed a global database of plant-availabl... Phosphorus (P) is frequently a limiting nutrient for plant production in terrestrial ecosystems. The soil is the primary source of P for plant growth, and plant-available soil P is the fraction of total soil P that is readily available to plants, especially plants without specialized carboxylate-releasing roots. Therefore, soil P availability af...Read More -
2025-07-09Uncovers Molecular Mechanism of Acetylation in Regulating Plant PhototropismPhototropism is essential for optimizing plant growth and development, primarily mediated by the photoreceptor phototropin 1 (phot1). However, the molecular components linking light perception to phot1 activation remain poorly understood. Here, we identify a novel regulatory mechanism wherein HDA9-dependent deacetylation precisely modulates phot... Plant phototropism represents an essential adaptive mechanism that optimizes photosynthetic efficiency and developmental processes through directional growth responses to light. As the primary photoreceptor, phototropin 1 (phot1) mediates both blue light perception and subsequent phototropic responses in plants. While the molecular components ...Read More -
2025-07-01Uncover the molecular mechanism underlying heterostyly in Rubiaceae: Auxin gene identified as a key “switch”Researchers employed multi-omics approaches to dissect the genetic architecture of the S-locus governing heterostyly in Mussaenda (Rubiaceae). The study revealed that S-locus comprises three tightly linked genes exhibiting a hemizygous structure, formed through stepwise gene duplication. The auxin-responsive gene MuIAA was identified as a candid... Scientists have discovered that the diversity of flowers in flowering plants may largely stem from their interactions with pollinators. To attract these pollinators, flowering plants have evolved a wide array of floral structures and morphologies during evolution. Interestingly, even distantly related plants can develop similar floral traits in ...Read More -
2025-07-01Completed high-quality reference genomes for three medicinal Glycyrrhiza species, facilitating the genetic breeding of licoriceWe obtained high-quality genomic sequence data of these three licorices. By genome assembly-assisted comparison, collinear relationships and structural variations (SVs) among the three Glycyrrhiza species were identified. As a consequence, the appearance of unique genes and differential expression of commonly existed genes explains why all three... Licorice, known as the "Elderly master" in Chinese medicine, is a brilliant gem in the treasure trove of traditional Chinese medicine. As early as in the "Shennong Ben Cao Jing ", it was classified as an upper-grade herb and holds a crucial position in the clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine often s...Read More