Genetic architecture of the S-locus supergene revealed in a tetraploid distylous species.

Heterostyly is a polymorphic floral adaptation controlled by supergenes. The molecular basis of distyly has been investigated in diploid species from several unrelated families, but information is lacking for polyploid systems. Here, we address this knowledge gap in Schizomussaenda henryi, a tetraploid distylous species of Rubiaceae, the family with the greatest number of heterostylous species.

Monthly Alternations of Core Plant Species in Dynamic Plant-Pollinator Networks of an Urban Botanical Garden.

Urban systems, particularly botanical gardens, often comprise a lot of exotic plant species that can integrate into local plant-pollinator networks, influencing their temporal structural dynamics. However, revealing how plant-pollinator interactions are continuously reshaped and how the roles of native plant and exotic plant species within networks alter over time remains a significant challenge. Here, we reconstructed monthly plant-pollinator interaction networks for 12 months within an urban botanical garden.

Genomic evidence unveils the genetic architecture and evolution of the S-locus controlling heterostyly in Rubiaceae.

The S-locus supergene controlling heterostyly has multiple angiosperm origins and is characterized by convergent evolution in form and function. The genetic architecture of floral polymorphism has been studied in several unrelated families, but not Rubiaceae, which has the largest number of heterostylous species. We assembled genomes of the long- and short-styled morphs of distylous Mussaenda lancipetala and investigated the structure and evolution of the S-locus in three Mussaenda species to evaluate evidence for convergence in genetic architecture and gene function in unrelated families.

One-Step Synergistic SDS-HO Process for High-Purity Chitin Extraction from Fly Larvae.

This study develops an efficient method for chitin extraction from fly larvae using a synergistic sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-hydrogen peroxide (HO) system. Through a three-factor orthogonal experimental design, the optimal conditions were determined as 7% HO, 80 °C, and 15% SDS, achieving 97.93% deproteinization and 95.

Genome compaction underlies the molecular adaptation of bay cedar () to the extreme habitat on the tropical coral islands.

•The assembled genome of Bay cedar is 292.8 Mb, representing a small genome size within Fabales.•The compact genome was likely caused by remarkable reduction of long terminal repeat retrotransposons and gene losses.

Chromosome-scale genome assembly of the mangrove climber species Dalbergia candenatensis.

Consisting of trees, climbers and herbs exclusively in the intertidal environments, mangrove forest is one of the most extreme and vulnerable ecosystems of our planet and has long been of great interest for biologists and ecologists. Here, we first assembled the chromosome-scale genome of a climber mangrove plant, Dalbergia candenatensis. The assembled genome size is approximately 474.

Hydrogel Films with Impact Resistance by Sacrificial Micelle-Assisted-Alignment.

Various strategies are developed to engineer aligned hierarchical architectures in polymer hydrogels for enhanced mechanical performance. However, chain alignment remains impeded by the presence of hydrogen bonds between adjacent chains. Herein, a facile sacrificial micelle-assisted-alignment strategy is proposed, leading to well-aligned, strong and tough pure chitosan hydrogels.

Metabolomics Revealed the Tolerance and Growth Dynamics of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) to Soil Salinity in Licorice.

Several studies have been devoted to seeking some beneficial plant-related microorganisms for a long time, and on this basis, it has been found that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have a considerable positive impact on plant health as a biological fungal agent. In this study, we focused on the effects of different AMF on the growth dynamics and root configuration of licorice under saline and alkali conditions. The metabolites of licorice under different AMF were assessed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Interfacial engineering in SnO-embedded graphene anode materials for high performance lithium-ion batteries.

Tin dioxide is regarded as an alternative anode material rather than graphite due to its high theoretical specific capacity. Modification with carbon is a typical strategy to mitigate the volume expansion effect of SnO during the charge process. Strengthening the interface bonding is crucial for improving the electrochemical performance of SnO/C composites.

Heterospecific pollen avoidance strategy prevails in the generalized plant-pollinator network on Yongxing Island.

Heterospecific pollen (HP) deposition varies widely among species in communities, which has been explicated by two adaptation strategies: HP avoidance and HP tolerance. Studies of the plant-pollinator network have uncovered that oceanic island communities are highly generalized and strongly connected. It remains unclear, however, which strategy prevails in such communities.

Dietary supplementation of water extract of Eucommia ulmoides bark improved caecal microbiota and parameters of health in white-feathered broilers.

Eucommia ulmoides has been used as a food and medicine homologue for a long time in China. We hypothesize that Eucommia ulmoides achieves its health-promoting effects via altering gut microbiota. Here, we investigated the effects of water extract of Eucommia ulmoides bark on caecal microbiota and growth performance, antioxidant activity, and immunity in white-feathered broilers treated for 42 days.

Multiple interaction networks reveal that Lepidoptera larvae and adults prefer various host plants for diet and pollination.

Plant-Lepidoptera interactions are often studied using the pollination or herbivore networks only. Lepidoptera species are involved in two types of plant-insect interactions because they are herbivores as larvae and pollinators as adults. The study of entangled networks is critical, since the interaction of different networks can affect the overall network and community stability.

Comprehensive transcriptomic profiling reveals complex molecular mechanisms in the regulation of style-length dimorphism in (Rubiaceae), a species with "anomalous" distyly.

Background: The evolution of heterostyly, a genetically controlled floral polymorphism, has been a hotspot of research since the 19th century. In recent years, studies on the molecular mechanism of distyly (the most common form of heterostyly) revealed an evolutionary convergence in genes for brassinosteroids (BR) degradation in different angiosperm groups. This floral polymorphism often exhibits considerable variability that some taxa have significant stylar dimorphism, but anther height differs less.

The impacts of vitamin D supplementation in adults with metabolic syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Studies have shown the association of vitamin D status with the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS), which has attracted an extensive research interest with inconsistent results. Therefore, we hypothesized that vitamin D supplementation (VDS) will benefit adults with MetS. To test our hypothesis, we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of VDS on MetS in adults using relevant biomarkers such as anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, blood lipid profile, glycemia, oxidative stress and vitamin D toxicity (VDT).

Ultra-low protein residue of chitosan by one step HO and sodium dodecyl sulfate treatment.

Residual protein in chitosan-based biomaterials may cause inflammation, allergy, and immune rejection after surgery, impeding their clinical application. Facile production of chitosan with ultra-low protein content (residual protein <0.2 %) is yet to be addressed.

Genomic evidence supports the genetic convergence of a supergene controlling the distylous floral syndrome.

Heterostyly, a plant sexual polymorphism controlled by the S-locus supergene, has evolved numerous times among angiosperm lineages and represents a classic example of convergent evolution in form and function. Determining whether underlying molecular convergence occurs could provide insights on constraints to floral evolution. Here, we investigated S-locus genes in distylous Gelsemium (Gelsemiaceae) to determine whether there is evidence of molecular convergence with unrelated distylous species.

Specificity of assemblage, not fungal partner species, explains mycorrhizal partnerships of mycoheterotrophic Burmannia plants.

Mycoheterotrophic plants (MHPs) growing on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) usually maintain specialized mycorrhizal associations. The level of specificity varies between MHPs, although it remains largely unknown whether interactions with mycorrhizal fungi differ by plant lineage, species, and/or by population. Here, we investigate the mycorrhizal interactions among Burmannia species (Burmanniaceae) with different trophic modes using high-throughput DNA sequencing.

The anterior versus posterior approach for the treatment of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in the cervical spine: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Systematic review and meta-analysis. To compare the effectiveness and safety between anterior and posterior approach, and determine the best surgical methods for the treatment of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) in the cervical spine. We searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, CNKI and Wanfang Med Data databases from January 2007 to March 2018.

Plastome of mycoheterotrophic Mak. (Burmanniaceae) exhibits extensive degradation and distinct rearrangements.

Plastomes of heterotrophs went through varying degrees of degradation along with the transition from autotrophic to heterotrophic lifestyle. Here, we identified the plastome of mycoheterotrophic species and compared it with those of its reported relatives including three autotrophs and one heterotroph () in Dioscoreales. .

Global transcriptome and gene co-expression network analyses on the development of distyly in Primula oreodoxa.

Distyly is a genetically controlled flower polymorphism that has intrigued both botanists and evolutionary biologists ever since Darwin's time. Despite extensive reports on the pollination and evolution of distylous systems, the genetic basis and mechanism of molecular regulation remain unclear. In the present study, comparative transcriptome profiling was conducted in primrose (Primula oreodoxa), the prime research model for heterostyly.

A symbiotic balancing act: arbuscular mycorrhizal specificity and specialist fungus gnat pollination in the mycoheterotrophic genus Thismia (Thismiaceae).

Background And Aims: Mycorrhizal associations in mycoheterotrophic plants are generally more specialized than in autotrophs. Mycoheterotrophs typically bear small, inconspicuous flowers that often self-pollinate to maximize seed set, although some have structurally complex flowers indicative of xenogamy. A trade-off has previously been proposed between specialization in these above- and below-ground symbioses, although empirical data are lacking.

Evolution of CYCLOIDEA-like genes in Fabales: Insights into duplication patterns and the control of floral symmetry.

Cycloidea-like (CYC-like) genes are the key regulatory factors in the development of flower symmetry. Duplication and/or reduction of CYC-like genes have occurred several times in various angiosperm groups and are hypothesized to be correlated with the evolution of flower symmetry, which in turn has contributed to the evolutionary success of these groups. However, less is known about the evolutionary scenario of CYC-like genes in the whole Fabales, which contains four families with either symmetric or actinomorphic flowers.

Evolution of sexual systems and growth habit in Mussaenda (Rubiaceae): Insights into the evolutionary pathways of dioecy.

Dioecy is a rare sexual system that is thought to represent an "evolutionary dead end". While many studies have addressed the evolution of dioecy and/or its relationship with the evolution of the woody habit, few have explored the relationship between dioecy and climbing habit, and their effects on diversification rates. Here, we study the evolution of sexual systems and growth habit in Mussaenda (Rubiaceae) using a robust phylogeny of the genus based on eight plastid regions and a broad sampling of taxa (92 of the 132 species were sampled).