Uncovering the evolutionary origin of blue anthocyanins in cereal grains

Functional divergence after gene duplication plays a central role in plant evolution. Among cereals, only Hordeum vulgare (barley), Triticum aestivum (wheat) and Secale cereale (rye) accumulate delphinidin‐derived (blue) anthocyanins in the aleurone layer of grains, whereas Oryza sativa (rice), Zea mays (maize) and Sorghum bicolor (sorghum) do not. The underlying genetic basis for this natural occurrence remains elusive. Here, we mapped the barley Blx1 locus involved in blue aleurone to an approximately 1.13 Mb genetic interval on chromosome 4HL, thus identifying a trigenic cluster named MbHF35 (containing HvMYB4H, HvMYC4H and HvF35H). Sequence and expression data supported the role of these genes in conferring blue‐coloured (blue aleurone) grains. Synteny analyses across monocot species showed that MbHF35 has only evolved within distinct Triticeae lineages, as a result of dispersed gene duplication. Phylogeny analyses revealed a shared evolution pattern for MbHF35 in Triticeae, suggesting that these genes have co‐evolved together. We also identified a Pooideae‐specific flavonoid 3′,5′‐hydroxylase (F3′5′H) lineage, termed here Mo_F35H2, which has a higher amino acid similarity with eudicot F3′5′Hs, demonstrating a scenario of convergent evolution. Indeed, selection tests identified 13 amino acid residues in Mo_F35H2 that underwent positive selection, possibly driven by protein thermostablility selection. Furthermore, through the interrogation of barley germplasm there is evidence that HvMYB4H and HvMYC4H have undergone human selection. Collectively, our study favours blue aleurone as a recently evolved trait resulting from environmental adaptation. Our findings provide an evolutionary explanation for the absence of blue anthocyanins in other cereals and highlight the importance of gene functional divergence for plant diversity and environmental adaptation.     

施硼和赤霉素对‘李广杏’坐果率及果实品质的影响

该研究以8年生盛果期的‘李广杏’植株为试材,于花蕾膨大期喷施0.1%(P1)、0.3%(P2)和0.5%(P3)硼砂和盛花初期喷施50(C1)、100(C2)和150 mg/L(C3)赤霉素,测定不同处理下李广杏的坐果率、果实品质及营养生长指标的变化,并用主成分分析不同处理的效果进行综合评价,为敦煌寒旱区‘李广杏’的栽培提供理论依据。结果表明:(1)‘李广杏’叶面积增长量在C1浓度处理下显著高于CK,不同浓度的硼处理对其均具有抑制作用,但C1、P2浓度下新稍生长量高于其他处理。(2)适宜浓度的硼和赤霉素处理可一定程度减少‘李广杏’花的败育率,从而有效提高果树的坐果率,其中硼处理以P3浓度下最优,但P3与P2处理下坐果率无显著差异,赤霉素处理以C2浓度下最优。(3)适宜浓度硼和赤霉素能够明显提高‘李广杏’果实品质,C1浓度处理下的果实糖酸比、可溶性固形物含量显著高于CK,P2处理下的果实维生素C、可滴定酸含量显著高于其他处理;适宜浓度赤霉素和硼对果实的单果重、果形指数、侧径有明显的促进作用。(4)主成分分析结果显示,各处理效果的综合得分由高到低依次为P2(1.20)>C2(0.91)>P1(0.13)>C1(-1.01)>CK(-1.68)>P3(-2.13)>C3(-7.76);果实可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白、糖酸比等主成分占比较高,可作为评价‘李广杏’果实品质的重要依据。研究发现,花期喷施适宜浓度的硼和赤霉素可有效提高‘李广杏’果树的生长状况、坐果率及果实品质,且甘肃敦煌地区以花蕾膨大期喷施0.3%硼和盛花初期喷施100 mg/L赤霉素效果最佳。     

大兴安岭泥炭地不同菌根类型木本植物叶片凋落物分解及其温度敏感性差异

以我国大兴安岭多年冻土区泥炭地常见的3种外生菌根木本植物(细叶沼柳Salix rosmarinifolia、白桦Betula platyphylla和柴桦B.fruticosa)和4种欧石楠菌根木本植物(笃斯越桔Vaccinium uliginosum、狭叶杜香Ledum palustre、甸杜Chamaedaphne calyculata和小叶杜鹃Rhododendron parrifolum)为研究对象,通过315天培养试验测定10和20℃叶片凋落物分解过程中的碳(C)累积矿化量和重量损失,并分析其温度敏感性。结果表明:外生菌根植物叶片凋落物的C矿化量和重量损失在10和20℃均高于欧石楠菌根植物;外生菌根植物凋落物分解过程中C矿化量的温度敏感性系数高于欧石楠菌根植物,但重量损失的温度敏感性系数低于欧石楠菌根植物;在每一培养温度下,C矿化量和重量损失均与凋落物全氮(N)和全磷(P)浓度呈正相关,与C/N和C/P呈负相关;尽管C矿化量的温度敏感性系数与凋落物初始化学组成无显著相关性,但重量损失的温度敏感性系数与凋落物全N和全P浓度呈负相关,与C/N和C/P呈正相关。本研究结果为认识和预测气候变暖及其引起的物种组成变化对北方泥炭地植物凋落物分解的影响提供理论依据。     

中亚热带濒危植物毛红椿和南方红豆杉种内与种间竞争差异

濒危植物是全球生物多样性的重要组成部分,为了弄清中亚热带地区不同生长型濒危乔木树种的竞争模式及其机制,研究了江西九岭山国家级自然保护区毛红椿和南方红豆杉的种内与种间竞争差异。结果表明: 阳性落叶树种毛红椿种群的竞争压力主要来自于同种个体,种内竞争指数占总竞争指数的66.4%,耐阴常绿树种南方红豆杉种群主要受种间竞争的影响,种间竞争指数占总竞争指数的68.7%。2种濒危植物受到的种内、种间以及总竞争强度均随着林木径级的增大而逐渐减小,表明竞争压力由幼林向成熟林逐渐降低。在生长过程中,毛红椿以种内竞争引起的自疏作用为主导,南方红豆杉则由种间竞争引起的他疏作用为主导。毛红椿和南方红豆杉种群在更新过程中,小径级个体都要经历强度较大的种内或种间竞争选择才能发育为成树。由于主要竞争压力的来源差异,对于生活在中亚热带同一区域内不同生长型的濒危植物应该采取不同的生物多样性保育措施。     

坡向和坡位对四川夹金山灌丛群落结构与物种多样性特征的影响

研究不同坡向、坡位夹金山灌丛群落结构和物种多样性特征。结果表明: 在 24 个样地中,共有维管植物 186 种,隶属于 50 科 127 属。其中,灌木层有 32 种,隶属于 14 科 22 属,阴坡下坡位物种数最多;草本层有 154 种,隶属于 43 科 109 属,阴坡物种数最少。灌木层的平均高度表现为阳坡>半阳坡>阴坡,平均密度则相反;草本层平均高度表现为阴坡>半阳坡>阳坡,平均密度无显著变化。坡位仅对阳坡草本层平均高度有显著影响,灌木层物种多样性在阴坡较高,草本层物种多样性在阳坡下坡位和阴坡中坡位较高。坡向对灌木层和草本层 Shannon多样性指数、Simpson优势度指数、物种丰富度指数、Pielou均匀度指数影响显著(除草本层 Simpson 指数),坡位对灌木层和草本层物种多样性指数均无显著影响,坡向和坡位的交互作用对草本层物种多样性的影响大于灌木层。冗余分析(RDA)表明,物种多样性不仅与坡向正弦值、坡向余弦值相关,也与群落结构特征相关性较大。     

基于氢氧稳定同位素的黄河兰州段河岸植物水分来源

多枝柽柳和旱柳是北方地区河岸生态修复的良好树种,具有护河防洪、调节区域气候的作用和营造河岸地带植被景观的功能。本研究选取黄河兰州段沿岸2处样点,采集了多枝柽柳和旱柳木质部以及各潜在水源的样品,利用氧同位素直接对比法、贝叶斯混合模型MixSIAR和相似性比例指数(PS指数),分析了多枝柽柳和旱柳对各潜在水源的利用率以及两者之间的水分利用关系。结果表明: 在整个生长季,浅层土壤水(0～30 cm)是多枝柽柳和旱柳的主要水分来源,利用率分别为28.3%和24.4%,多枝柽柳对河水的利用率最小(16.6%),旱柳对地下水的利用率最小(17.9%);在土壤含水量较低的月份,植物会增加对河水和地下水的利用比例,样点S₁和S₂的PS指数分别为91.0%和87.7%,两个样点均在5月的PS指数最大,不同月份的水分利用关系存在一定的差异;处于河漫滩这一特殊地理位置,多枝柽柳和旱柳对各潜在水源的利用比较平均,最大程度地获取各潜在水源的水分,是一种最优的吸水模式。本研究可为开展黄河兰州段河岸休闲旅游活动和黄河流域生态环境保护中植物水分管理提供一定的理论基础。     

分子标记在濒危物种保护中的应用

分子标记可揭示种群遗传和进化信息, 为制定濒危物种保护措施、指导恢复实践提供重要依据。本文主要介绍了分子标记在濒危物种保护过程不同环节中的应用, 包括: (1)正确识别保护单元, 如排除隐存种和杂交种的影响; (2)确定优先保护单元, 包括优先保护区域、优先保护物种、优先保护种群等; (3)指导迁地保护; (4)对保护工作的动态监测和评估。文章最后探讨了分子标记应用于保护的发展方向, 如开展长期的种群遗传组成监测、切实应用于保护管理实践、将基因组学等遗传信息用于全球变化背景下保护策略的制定等, 期望为分子标记技术在生物多样性保护的研究和实践中提供参考。     

Genomic and phenomic analysis of island ant community assembly

Island biodiversity has long fascinated biologists as it typically presents tractable systems for unpicking the eco‐evolutionary processes driving community assembly. In general, two recurring themes are of central theoretical interest. First, immigration, diversification, and extinction typically depend on island geographical properties (e.g., area, isolation, and age). Second, predictable ecological and evolutionary trajectories readily occur after colonization, such as the evolution of adaptive trait syndromes, trends toward specialization, adaptive radiation, and eventual ecological decline. Hypotheses such as the taxon cycle draw on several of these themes to posit particular constraints on colonization and subsequent eco‐evolutionary dynamics. However, it has been challenging to examine these integrated dynamics with traditional methods. Here, we combine phylogenomics, population genomics and phenomics, to unravel community assembly dynamics among Pheidole (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) ants in the isolated Fijian archipelago. We uphold basic island biogeographic predictions that isolated islands accumulate diversity primarily through in situ evolution rather than dispersal, and population genomic support for taxon cycle predictions that endemic species have decreased dispersal ability and demography relative to regionally widespread taxa. However, rather than trending toward island syndromes, ecomorphological diversification in Fiji was intense, filling much of the genus‐level global morphospace. Furthermore, while most endemic species exhibit demographic decline and reduced dispersal, we show that the archipelago is not an evolutionary dead‐end. Rather, several endemic species show signatures of population and range expansion, including a successful colonization to the Cook islands. These results shed light on the processes shaping island biotas and refine our understanding of island biogeographic theory.     

石灰碳铵熏蒸联合生物有机肥对香蕉枯萎病和细菌群落的影响

以连续种植的香蕉枯萎病高发病蕉园为试验点,通过实时定量PCR和高通量测序等方法,研究了田间条件下石灰碳铵熏蒸联合生物有机肥施用对香蕉枯萎病的防治效果,以及对土壤细菌群落结构和组成的影响。结果表明: 与不熏蒸施用有机肥(OF)相比,香蕉枯萎病发病率在施用有机肥前使用石灰碳铵进行熏蒸处理(LAOF)和施用生物有机肥前使用石灰碳铵进行熏蒸处理(LABF)中分别降低了13.3%和21.7%,病原菌的拷贝数分别降低了22.4%和33.0%。与OF处理相比,石灰碳铵熏蒸联合不同肥料施用均显著降低了细菌的丰富度和多样性,形成了明显不同的群落结构,且熏蒸对群落组成的差异产生了决定性的影响。LABF的细菌丰富度和多样性均低于其他处理,群落组成也与其他处理存在明显差异。与OF处理相比,熏蒸处理(LAOF和LABF)显著增加了土壤中水恒杆菌、布鲁式菌和漯河杆菌属的相对丰度,且在LABF中的相对丰度均高于LAOF,水恒杆菌和布鲁式菌的相对丰度差异显著。在田间条件下,施用生物有机肥之前使用石灰碳铵进行熏蒸处理能够显著降低病原菌数量,改变土壤细菌群落结构,激发土壤有益微生物,从而减少香蕉枯萎病的发生。     

Studies on reproductive strategies of Vitex negundo L. var. heterophylla (Franch.) Rehder (Lamiaceae) based on morphological characteristics and SSR markers

Vitex negundo L. var. heterophylla (Franch.) Rehder (Lamiaceae) is an important tree species for soil and water conservation, yet the reproductive ecology of this species remains to be elucidated. To investigate the reproductive traits of V. negundo var. heterophylla, the phenology, morphological characteristics (a suite of characters was assessed: floral morphology, nectar production, pollen viability, and stigma receptivity) and mating system of this species were systematically revealed for the first time in this study. Phenological observations, morphological measurements, and nectar production analysis were conducted during anthesis. Pollen viability and stigma receptivity at different flowering stages were measured by biochemical methods. Finally, genetic analysis based on SSR markers was used to reveal the mating system; outcrossing index and pollen‐ovule ratio were also calculated to help analysis. V. negundo var. heterophylla showed several obvious characteristics of outcrossing, such as abundant and attractive flowers, secreting nectar, and emitting scent. In addition, mechanisms such as homogamy and a short anther‐stigma distance that can promote self‐fertilization were also identified in this species. The coexistence of selfing and outcrossing characteristics demonstrates a predominantly outcrossed mixed mating system (outcrossing rate, t = 95%). The scientific information provided by this study may contribute to conservation of V. negundo var. heterophylla from a reproductive perspective.