Allopatric divergence and hybridization within Cupressus chengiana (Cupressaceae), a threatened conifer in the northern Hengduan Mountains of western China

Having a comprehensive understanding of population structure, genetic differentiation and demographic history is important for the conservation and management of threatened species. High‐throughput sequencing (HTS) provides exciting opportunities to address a wide range of factors for conservation genetics. Here, we generated HTS data and identified 266,884 high‐quality single nucleotide polymorphisms from 82 individuals of Cupressus chengiana, to assess population genomics across the species' full range, comprising the Daduhe River (DDH), Minjiang River (MJR) and Bailongjiang River (BLJ) catchments in western China. admixture , principal components analysis and phylogenetic analyses indicated that each region contains a distinct lineage, with high levels of differentiation between them (DDH, MJR and BLJ lineages). MJR was newly distinguished compared to previous surveys, and evidence including coalescent simulations supported a hybrid origin of MJR during the Quaternary. Each of these three lineages should be recognized as an evolutionarily significant unit (ESU), due to isolation, differing genetic adaptations and different demographic history. Currently, each ESU faces distinct threats, and will require different conservation strategies. Our work shows that population genomic approaches using HTS can reconstruct the complex evolutionary history of threatened species in mountainous regions, and hence inform conservation efforts, and contribute to the understanding of high biodiversity in mountains.     

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。     

6-gingerol protects nucleus pulposus-derived mesenchymal stem cells from oxidative injury by activating autophagy

BACKGROUNDTo date, there has been no effective treatment for intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Nucleus pulposus-derived mesenchymal stem cells (NPMSCs) showed encouraging results in IDD treatment, but the overexpression of reactive oxygen species (ROS) impaired the endogenous repair abilities of NPMSCs. 6-gingerol (6-GIN) is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory reagent that might protect NPMSCs from injury.AIMTo investigate the effect of 6-GIN on NPMSCs under oxidative conditions and the potential mechanism.METHODSThe cholecystokinin-8 assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of hydrogen peroxide and the protective effects of 6-GIN. ROS levels were measured by 2´7´-dichlorofluorescin diacetate analysis. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) was detected by the tetraethylbenzimidazolylcarbocyanine iodide assay. TUNEL assay and Annexin V/PI double-staining were used to determine the apoptosis rate. Additionally, autophagy-related proteins (Beclin-1, LC-3, and p62), apoptosis-associated proteins (Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3), and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway-related proteins (PI3K and Akt) were evaluated by Western blot analysis. Autophagosomes were detected by transmission electron microscopy in NPMSCs. LC-3 was also detected by immunofluorescence. The mRNA expression of collagen II and aggrecan was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the changes in collagen II and MMP-13 expression were verified through an immunofluorescence assay.RESULTS6-GIN exhibited protective effects against hydrogen peroxide-induced injury in NPMSCs, decreased hydrogen peroxide-induced intracellular ROS levels, and inhibited cell apoptosis. 6-GIN could increase Bcl-2 expression and decrease Bax and caspase-3 expression. The MMP, Annexin V-FITC/PI flow cytometry and TUNEL assay results further confirmed that 6-GIN treatment significantly inhibited NPMSC apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide. 6-GIN treatment promoted extracellular matrix (ECM) expression by reducing the oxidative stress injury-induced increase in MMP-13 expression. 6-GIN activated autophagy by increasing the expression of autophagy-related markers (Beclin-1 and LC-3) and decreasing the expression of p62. Autophagosomes were visualized by transmission electron microscopy. Pretreatment with 3-MA and BAF further confirmed that 6-GIN-mediated stimulation of autophagy did not reduce autophagosome turnover but increased autophagic flux. The PI3K/Akt pathway was also found to be activated by 6-GIN. 6-GIN inhibited NPMSC apoptosis and ECM degeneration, in which autophagy and the PI3K/Akt pathway were involved.CONCLUSION6-GIN efficiently decreases ROS levels, attenuates hydrogen peroxide-induced NPMSCs apoptosis, and protects the ECM from degeneration. 6-GIN is a promising candidate for treating IDD.     

An undiscovered facet of hydraulic redistribution driven by evaporation—a study from a Populus tomentosa plantation

Maintaining the activity and function of the shallow root system of plants is essential for withstanding drought stress, but the associated mechanism is poorly understood. By investigating sap flow in 14 lateral roots (LRs) randomly selected from trees of a Chinese white poplar (Populus tomentosa) plantation receiving three levels of irrigation, an unknown root water transport mode of simultaneous daytime bi-directional water flow was discovered. This mode existed in five LRs confined to the surface soil without attached sinker roots. In the longer term, the bi-directional water flow was correlated with the soil water content. However, within the day, it was associated with transpiration. Our data demonstrated that bi-directional root sap flow occurred during the day, and was driven by evaporative demand, further suggesting the existence of circumferential water movement in the LR xylem. We named this phenomenon evaporation-driven hydraulic redistribution (EDHR). A soil-root water transport model was proposed to encapsulate this water movement mode. EDHR may be a crucial drought-tolerance mechanism that allows plants to maintain shallow root survival and activity by promoting root water recharge under extremely dry conditions.     

Exogenous spermidine enhances Epichloë endophyte-induced tolerance to NaCl stress in wild barley (Hordeum brevisubulatum)

Plant and Soil - We investigated morphological variations in podzols caused by changes in soil porosity and permeability upon the growth of large tree-roots in a tropical barrier island (Ilha...     

Differential responses of litter decomposition in the air and on the soil surface to shrub encroachment in a graminoid-dominated temperate wetland

Plant and Soil - Graminoid-dominated wetlands have been subjected to widespread shrub encroachment, yet the effect of this shift in species composition on litter decomposition remains unclear,...     

Different leaf carbon,nitrogen, and phosphorus stoichiometry and carbon and nitrogen isotopes among peatland plants in northeastern China

Plant and Soil - Plant carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) levels and their stoichiometry and N uptake strategies are important aspects influencing vegetation composition and C dynamics in...