Phenotypic and genetic dissection of cadmium accumulation in roots,nodes and grains of rice hybrids

Plant and Soil - Rice accumulates higher levels of cadmium (Cd) in grain than other cereals, and hybrid rice varieties cover around half of the total rice area in China. Therefore, understanding...     

基于红外相机的四川亚丁国家级自然保护区鸟兽多样性初报

2017年5～11月,我们在四川亚丁国家级自然保护区内共布设64台红外相机,对保护区内的兽类和鸟类多样性进行了调查。经过8 394个相机工作日的调查,我们共鉴定出分属9目26科共56种的野生兽类和鸟类,其中国家Ⅰ级、Ⅱ级重点保护野生动物分别有5种和13种,被IUCN红色名录评估为濒危(EN)、易危(VU)、近危(NT)的野生动物分别有2种、3种和6种。相对多度指数居前三位的兽类和鸟类分别是毛冠鹿(Elaphodus cephalophus)、珀氏长吻松鼠(Dremomys pernyi)、猕猴(Macaca mulatta)和血雉(Ithaginis cruentus)、大噪鹛(Garrulax maximus)、雉鹑(Tetraophasis obscurus)。本次调查初步了解了亚丁保护区内鸟兽的种类、丰富度、分布以及人为干扰情况,是亚丁国家级自然保护区第一次开展鸟兽的本底资源调查和研究。我们的调查结果对掌握亚丁国家级自然保护区的鸟兽种类和分布现状等本底资料具有重要意义,同时也为保护区今后的科研工作及开展野生动物的保护管理和长期监测提供了数据支持和指导。     

Genomic analyses of a “living fossil”: The endangered dove‐tree

Davidia involucrata Baill, also known as the dove‐tree, is a living fossil and an endangered species currently restricted to the mountains of southwestern and central China. It has a beautiful and innovative trait of high horticultural value: two white bracts covering the flower caputila. Here, we report on the chromosome‐scale genome of this species using single‐molecule real‐time long reads and chromosome conformation capture (Hi‐C) techniques. This species has a larger genome size of 1,169 Mb and contains relatively more genes (42,554) than the closely related species Camptotheca acuminata (397 Mb and 31,825 genes). Both species shared one recent whole genome duplication before their divergence. The expansion of the repetitive elements after their divergence contributed greatly to the increase in the genome size of the dove‐tree. Photosynthesis‐related genes were almost absent or showed reduced expression in the bracts of the dove‐tree, while defence‐ and chemical‐related genes increased greatly, highlighting the important roles of the bracts in protecting flowers and attracting pollinators. The effective population size of the dove‐tree continuously decreased during the climate changes of the Quaternary. Such climate sensitivity should be fully considered in conservation efforts for this relict endangered species in the context of continuous climate warming in the future.     

Phylotranscriptomics of Swertiinae (Gentianaceae) reveals that key floral traits are not phylogenetically correlated

Establishing how lineages with similar traits are phylogenetically related remains critical for understanding the origin of biodiversity on Earth. Floral traits in plants are widely used to explore phylogenetic relationships and to delineate taxonomic groups. The subtribe Swertiinae (Gentianaceae) comprises more than 350 species with high floral diversity ranging from rotate to tubular corollas and possessing diverse nectaries. Here we performed phylogenetic analysis of 60 species from all 15 genera of the subtribe Swertiinae sensu Ho and Liu, representing the range of floral diversity, using data from the nuclear and plastid genomes. Extensive topological conflicts were present between the nuclear and plastome trees. Three of the 15 genera represented by multiple species are polyphyletic in both trees. Key floral traits including corolla type, absence or presence of lobe scales, nectary type, nectary position, and stigma type are randomly distributed in the nuclear and plastome trees without phylogenetic correlation. We also revealed the likely ancient hybrid origin of one large clade comprising 10 genera with diverse floral traits. These results highlight the complex evolutionary history of this subtribe. The phylogenies constructed here provide a basic framework for further exploring the ecological and genetic mechanisms underlying both species diversification and floral diversity.