Unusual Formation of CoO@C “Dandelions” Derived from 2D Kagóme MOLs for Efficient Lithium Storage

Despite great breakthroughs, the search for anode materials with high performance for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) remains challenging. Hence, engineering advantageous structures via effective routes can bring new possibilities to the development of the LIB field. Herein, the precise synthesis of three‐dimensional (3D) hybrids of ultrathin carbon‐wrapped CoO (CoO@C) dandelions is reported by the pyrolysis of two‐dimensional (2D) Kagóme metal–organic layers (MOLs) at 400 °C under an Ar atmosphere. Due to the special coordination structure of the paternal MOLs, the resulting CoO nanowires show a small diameter of 5–10 nm and are uniformly confined within the ultrathin carbon layer. Based on the time‐dependent pyrolysis experiments, a crystal transformation mechanism of in situ self‐templated‐recrystallization‐self‐assembly accompanied by phase and morphology changes is first presented to reveal the formation of the 3D dandelion‐like spheres with assembly of nanowire arrays from a 2D Kagóme MOL. By virtue of structural and compositional features, including a 3D array structure, the small size of the primary ultrathin nanowires, and a uniform ultrathin graphitic carbon layer, these unique CoO@C dandelions display high specific capacity, good rate capability, and excellent cycling stability. Importantly, this approach can be extended to accurately synthesize other desired composite structures.     

海拔和坡向对色季拉山蒲公英总黄酮及糖分含量的影响

【目的】蒲公英是西藏最常见的药食两用植物,研究其植株内主要药理活性成分黄酮类、多糖以及其他糖分含量在种间差异以及随着坡向和海拔梯度的变化特征,对其高效开发利用具有重要的指导意义。【方法】以毛柄蒲公英、大头蒲公英、锡金蒲公英、灰果蒲公英、反苞蒲公英和角苞蒲公英不同坡向和海拔样地的全草样本为研究材料,分别对植株中的总黄酮和几种糖分含量进行了测定和分析。【结果】（1）总黄酮含量在毛柄蒲公英西坡3 900 m样本中最高（80.96 mg/g）,而锡金蒲公英东坡2 300 m样本含量（29.08 mg/g）最低,并显著低于其他样本（P<0.05）。（2）总糖含量在反苞蒲公英东坡2 000 m样本中达440.55 mg/g,显著高于其他样本;而锡金蒲公英西坡4 200 m样本仅63 mg/g,显著低于其他样本。（3）所有样本中还原性糖含量最高为61.1 mg/g,最低为35.98 mg/g,但不同种质和不同海拔高度之间的差距不如总糖含量明显。（4）多糖含量在反苞蒲公英东坡2 000 m和锡金蒲公英西坡3 000 m样本高达320 mg/g以上,而锡金蒲公英西坡4 200 m和3 900 m以及毛柄蒲公英西坡3 900 m样本含量不足70 mg/g,并与其他样本差异显著。【结论】西藏蒲公英中黄酮和多糖含量较高,并在不同种质之间差异明显;黄酮和多糖含量随海拔或坡向呈相反变化趋势,而多糖和总糖含量则有相似的变化规律;高海拔和西坡向可能有利于黄酮积累,低海拔和东坡向可能有利于多糖积累。     

GENETICAL POPULATION STRUCTURE IN PLANTS: GENE FLOW BETWEEN DIPLOID SEXUAL AND TRIPLOID ASEXUAL DANDELIONS (TARAXACUM SECTION RUDERALIA)

Levels and distribution of genetic variation were studied in central and western European populations of Taraxacum section Ruderalia containing differing mixtures of sexual diploid and asexual triploid plants. All sexual populations were panmictic with their variation partitioned mainly among populations. Genotypic diversity in triploid samples was very high with few clones widespread and many clones restricted to one or a few populations. Extensive amounts of gene (pollen) flow between the diploid and triploid components of a population were inferred from the following data: (1) the two ploidy levels share all major allozyme polymorphisms; (2) the intrapopulational homogeneity in genic variation between diploids and triploids contrasts strongly with the geographic differentiation at each ploidy level separately; (3) population-unique alleles simultaneously occur at the two ploidy levels; (4) not only sexuals but also asexuals generally simulate Hardy-Weinberg expectations. Most likely, intrapopulational gene exchange occurs bidirectionally by mechanisms such as reductional pollen meiosis in apomictic plants, facultative apomixis, and formation of unreduced gametes in sexuals. Thus, diploid and triploid Taraxacum section Ruderalia are less genetically isolated than has previously been supposed and probably form a cohesive evolutionary unit with the level at which gene pools are shared differing by population.     

The epigenetic footprint of poleward range‐expanding plants in apomictic dandelions

Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation variation, can generate heritable phenotypic variation independent of the underlying genetic code. However, epigenetic variation in natural plant populations is poorly documented and little understood. Here, we test whether northward range expansion of obligate apomicts of the common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is associated with DNA methylation variation. We characterized and compared patterns of genetic and DNA methylation variation in greenhouse‐reared offspring of T. officinale that were collected along a latitudinal transect of northward range expansion in Europe. Genetic AFLP and epigenetic MS‐AFLP markers revealed high levels of local diversity and modest but significant heritable differentiation between sampling locations and between the southern, central and northern regions of the transect. Patterns of genetic and epigenetic variation were significantly correlated, reflecting the genetic control over epigenetic variation and/or the accumulation of lineage‐specific spontaneous epimutations, which may be selectively neutral. In addition, we identified a small component of DNA methylation differentiation along the transect that is independent of genetic variation. This epigenetic differentiation might reflect environment‐specific induction or, in case the DNA methylation variation affects relevant traits and fitness, selection of heritable DNA methylation variants. Such generated epigenetic variants might contribute to the adaptive capacity of individual asexual lineages under changing environments. Our results highlight the potential of heritable DNA methylation variation to contribute to population differentiation along ecological gradients. Further studies are needed using higher resolution methods to understand the functional significance of such natural occurring epigenetic differentiation.     

Competitive relationships amongst apomictic dandelions

The paper describes differences between six apomictic clones of dandelions as measured by dry weight increment when grown in competition with one another and when grown in competition with different grasses and as measured by leaf turnover, flowering and seed production of transplants in two different sites. The results suggest that mere is a genotype x environment interaction and that reproductive allocation in one site cannot be used as a predictive measure of reproductive allocation in a second site. The interactions between the dandelion clones and the grasses are interpreted in relation to the genetic uniformity within clones and are contrasted with similar interactions observed in sexual herbaceous species.