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Dragon fruit (pitaya) is an important tropical crop with medicinal and industrial values. However, severe environmental stress factors affect dragon fruit production and development. The MADS-box gene family performs essential role in the regulation of stress tolerance, reproduction, and fruit ripening in various plants, but relevant studies haven't been conducted on dragon fruit. In this study, the identification and expression analysis of the MADS-box gene family was conducted in response to abiotic stress factors in pitaya seedlings. We identified 67 MADS-box genes distributed across 11 chromosomes of the pitaya genome. All the genes were named from HuMADS-1 to HuMADS-67. The phylogenetic tree of HuMADS-box genes was constructed together with soybean, wheat, and Arabidopsis. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, tree tropology and motif's structure, all the genes were divided into 3 groups as Mα, Mδ, and MIKC. The HuMADS genes showed a conserved intron-exon structure and motif domain organization. The expression patterns of all HuMADS-box genes varied in 15 tissues of pitaya. The analysis of subcellular localization of all proteins predicted that 55.8 % of the total gene members were localized in the nucleus. The syntenic analysis showed 28 collinearity gene pairs, in which 4 gene pairs showed tandem duplication and 24 pairs showed segmental duplication on the chromosomes. Cis-acting element predicted their regulatory roles in plant defense processes. RNA-seq analysis of pitaya seedlings under single and combined stresses of drought and nickel exhibited higher expression of HuMADS-box genes. In addition, several HuMADS genes showed enhanced expression in response to melatonin treatment under drought and nickel stresses, thereby enhancing pitaya seedlingsgrowth and development. To validate the RNA-Seq data, RT-qPCR analysis was performed on 12 HuMADS genes, our results revealed that six of them (HuMADS-14/15/22/62/63/67) play important role in abiotic stress tolerance. Overall, our findings offer key insights for future genetic engineering strategies to develop stress-tolerant pitaya genotypes.

Multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) are transporter proteins exist widely in all living organisms which are involved in toxins detoxification. In plants, MATE proteins function in detoxification of endogenous secondary metabolites, exogenous agents, and other plant developmental processes. In this study, the identification and expression analysis of MATE gene family was conducted to analyse their response against heavy metal and salt stresses in pitaya seedlings. We have identified and analysed 35 MATE gene family members from pitaya genome which were mapped on all 11 chromosomes. All members of this family were named from HuMATE-1 to HuMATE-35, divided into 14 groups based on phylogenetic analysis, tree topology and motif's structure. The subcellular localization of 35 proteins was predicted and data showed that 62 % of the total gene members were localized on plasma membrane. The syntenic analysis showed 14 collinearity gene pairs in which two gene pairs showed tandem duplication and twelve pairs showed segmental duplication on the chromosomes. Genes motif composition and exon-intron structures were found more similar within the same group. Cis-acting element in promoter regions predicted their regulatory function in plant toxin detoxification and defence processes. RNA-Seq analysis of HuMATE candidate genes exhibit higher expression under copper and salt stresses individually as well as both in combination. Melatonin applications regulate HuMATE gene expression effectively for both copper and salt stresses, thus enhancing pitaya seedling growth and development. Moreover, RT-qPCR analysis of highly expressed 10 HuMATE genes at different developmental stages of pitaya validates the expression and RNA-Seq results. Our finding predicts thatHuMATE-7/11/12/28 genes are putative candidates and might play a key role in plant toxin detoxification produced by heavy metals accumulation and high soil salinity. Furthermore, our results provide the foundation for development of stress-tolerant genotypes under various climate scenarios through forward and reverse genetic breeding programs.

Urban environments are dynamic landscapes shaped by a multitude of factors, including environmental conditions and socio-economic influences. This study systematically investigates how various factors shape urban plant diversity in Haikou City, Hainan Province, China, focusing on 30 key drivers including socio-economic aspects, biophysical conditions, landscape elements, and management practices. Our research methodology involved a comprehensive analysis of these factors’ impact on six types of urban plant species: spontaneous, native spontaneous, exotic spontaneous, cultivated, native cultivated, and exotic cultivated. Conducted in urban areas with varying population densities and landscape features, our sampling approach aimed to understand the species’ distribution patterns. We discovered significant correlations between plant species diversity and specific environmental and socio-economic variables. Our results indicate that spontaneous species are prevalent in densely populated areas with strong social ties, whereas areas rich in tree and shrub cover see fewer such species. Native cultivated species favor more serene, less urbanized landscapes, while exotic cultivated species are predominantly found in economically affluent areas with diverse vegetation. These findings offer valuable insights for urban planning and biodiversity conservation, emphasizing the need for customized greening strategies that align with local environmental and social contexts. By adopting such tailored approaches, urban planners can more effectively manage landscapes, enrich green spaces, and foster biodiverse, sustainable ecosystems. This research not only enhances our understanding of urban plant biodiversity but also lays the groundwork for future studies and policy-making, promoting harmonious integration of diverse plant life within urban settings.

The SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN (SBP) gene family is essential for plant growth and development. However, little is known about the SBP gene family in pitaya (Selenicereus undatus L.); a fruit crop cultivated in tropical climates, severely affected by abiotic stress factors. These stresses produce excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), affecting pitaya growth and development. In this study, we identified 17 SBP genes in the pitaya genome (HuSBP) and classified them into seven distinct clusters based on their phylogeny. The HuSBP genes exhibited a conserved intron-exon structure and motif domain organization. These SBP genes were differentially expressed in 15 developmental stages of flower (F), flower buds (FB), pericarp (PeriC), and pulp. In addition, specific HuSBP genes exhibited higher expression under single-factor, double-factor, and multifactorial stresses, revealing their diverse role in the growth and development of pitaya. Exogenous application of melatonin with known antioxidant and stress-protective properties, was also applied. The expression pattern of RNA-Seq data was validated by RT-qPCR analysis. Based on genome-wide results and transcriptome-based data under multifactorial stresses, we predicted six putative candidate genes (HuSBP2/3/7/10/14/15) that might play diverse roles in pitaya growth and development. These results provide valuable insights into the role of HuSBP genes in pitaya stress tolerance and could be used to develop innovative strategies to create resilient and adaptable pitaya genotypes using conventional breeding and modern biotechnological tools.

Recent urbanization and human activities have led to the fragmentation of natural landscape patches and reduced the connectivity and degradation of urban ecosystems and biodiversity. Urban plant richness affects social functions and the well-being of urban residents and is driven by land use, local wealth, and urban green space management. Among these drivers, it remains unclear which factors play a more important role in driving the relative diversity of cultivated and spontaneous plant species richness in cities. Therefore, we investigated the spatial patterns and the drivers of cultivated and spontaneous plant species richness within 190 urban functional units (UFUs) in the tropical coastal city of Haikou, China, based on remote sensing data, fieldwork, and surveys of socioeconomic and greening management practices. Using multiple linear regression, we found that the most cultivated plants were located at colleges and universities, public affair service districts, and around hospitals, while the most spontaneous plants were found in transportation districts. The spatial organization of these plants was influenced by factors such as patchiness, connectivity, maintenance frequency and fertilizing frequency. Cultivated plants, conversely, were found to increase with patchiness and connectivity, and their presence was positively related to fertilizing and maintenance frequency. The richness of both spontaneous and cultivated plants was found to be influenced by various factors among different urban functional units (UFUs). The proximity to freshwater resources was found to increase the number of spontaneous plant species. Our findings underscore the significant impact of human activities on urban plant richness and highlight the importance of understanding these dynamics for urban planning and biodiversity conservation. Our work contributes to the scarce literature on the drivers of cultivated and spontaneous plant richness in recently developed tropical cities.

Investigating historical and ongoing changes in urban green space (UGS) and urban plant diversity (UPD) provides critical insights into urban ecology and urban planning development. The present study illuminates some of the transformations which can occur in rapidly developing urban landscapes. In this work, we used 30 m resolution images from the Landsat 5 satellite from 2015 to investigate UGS patterns in Haikou City, China. Metrics of UPD were obtained using field surveys, allowing the proportion of UGS and UPD to be determined in each urban functional unit (UFU) of Haikou. The results revealed that leisure and entertainment areas (such as parks) had the highest diversity, whereas roads and transportation hubs had the lowest. More frequent anthropogenic maintenance had a positive effect on the total number of species, including cultivated, tree, and herb species. Similarly, increased watering frequency had a positive impact on the diversity of cultivated and shrub species. By providing demonstrating a crucial link between UGS and UPD, the results provide valuable information for planning sustainable urban development in Haikou City and other tropical regions. They highlight the important role of UGS in maintaining biodiversity and providing a range of ecosystem services. This research will inform policymakers and urban planners about the need to consider UGS and UPD in urban planning and management process, in order to promote sustainability and conservation of biodiversity.

H4O14CoV4.4, monolinic, P2/m (no. 10), a = 8.1091(8) Å, b = 3.5128(2) Å, c = 9.7590(9) Å, β = 111.553(11)°, V = 258.55(4) Å3, Z = 1, Rgt(F) = 0.0401, wRref(F2) = 0.0922, T = 293(2) K.

Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson ex F.A. Zorn) Fosberg is native to the Pacific Islands, India, and the Philippines. It is also cultivated in Taiwan and Hainan. The complete plastome of the species was assembled and annotated in this study. The circular genome was 160,184 bp in size, presenting a typical quadripartite structure including two inverted repeats (IRs) of 25,734 bp, a large single-copy (LSC) of 88,791 bp, and a small single-copy (SSC) of 19,925 bp. The genome contained 132 genes, including 87 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. The total G/C content of complete plastome was 36.0%, with the corresponding values of the LSC, SSC, and IR being 33.7%, 28.8%, and 42.7%, respectively. The complete plastome sequence of A. altilis (Parkinson ex F.A. Zorn) Fosberg will make contributions to the conservation genetics of this species as well as to phylogenetic studies of Moraceae.

Global patterns of regional plant diversity are relatively well known, but whether they hold for local communities is debated. This study created multi-grain global maps of alpha diversity for vascular plants to provide a nuanced understanding of plant diversity hotspots and improve predictions of global change effects on biodiversity.

Abstract Within urban green spaces, tree species diversity is believed to correlate with aboveground biomass, though there is some disagreement within the literature on the strength and directionality of the relationship. Therefore, we assessed the relationship between the biodiversity of woody species and the aboveground biomass of woody plant species in the tropical, coastal city of Haikou in southern China. To accomplish this, we obtained comprehensive tree and site data through field sampling of 190 urban functional units (UFUs, or work units) corresponding to six types of land uses governmental‐institutional, industrial‐commercial, park‐recreational, residential, transport infrastructure, and undeveloped area. Based on our field data, we investigated the relationship between tree species diversity and aboveground biomass using multiple regression, which revealed significant relationships across all five types of land uses. Aboveground biomass in green spaces was also correlated with anthropogenic factors, especially time since urban development, or site age, annual maintenance frequency by human caretakers, and human population density. Among these factors, maintenance is the strongest predictor of aboveground biomass in urban green space. Therefore, this study highlights the critical role of maintenance of urban green space in promoting both aboveground biomass and woody biodiversity in urban ecosystems and, consequently, on urban ecosystem services. Our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the ecosystem services provided by communities of woody plant species in urban areas.

Arecaceae is a species-rich clade of Arecales, while also being regarded as a morphologically diverse angiosperm family with numerous species having significant economic, medicinal, and ornamental value. Although in-depth studies focused on the chloroplast structure of Arecaceae, as well as inferring phylogenetic relationships using gene fragments, have been reported in recent years, a comprehensive analysis of the chloroplast structure of Arecaceae is still needed. Here we perform a comprehensive analysis of the structural features of the chloroplast genome of Arecaceae, compare the variability of gene sequences, infer phylogenetic relationships, estimate species divergence times, and reconstruct ancestral morphological traits. In this study, 74 chloroplast genomes of Arecaceae were obtained, covering five subfamilies. The results show that all chloroplast genomes possess a typical tetrad structure ranging in size between 153,806-160,122 bp, with a total of 130-137 genes, including 76-82 protein-coding genes, 29-32 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes. Additionally, the total GC content was between 36.9-37.7%. Analysis of the SC/IR boundary indicated that the IR region underwent expansion or contraction. Phylogenetic relationships indicate that all five subfamilies in Arecaceae are monophyletic and that Ceroxyloideae and Arecoideae are sister groups (BS/PP = 100/1). The results of molecular dating indicate that the age of the crown group of Arecaceae is likely to be 96.60 [84.90-107.60] Ma, while the age of the stem group is 102.40 [93.44-111.17] Ma. Reconstruction of ancestral traits indicate that the ancestral characteristics of the family include monoecious plants, one seed, six stamens, and a smooth pericarp.

Abstract Background Myrtales is a species rich branch of Rosidae, with many species having important economic, medicinal, and ornamental value. At present, although there are reports on the chloroplast structure of Myrtales, a comprehensive analysis of the chloroplast structure of Myrtales is lacking. Phylogenetic and divergence time estimates of Myrtales are mostly constructed by using chloroplast gene fragments, and the support for relationships is low. A more reliable method to reconstruct the species divergence time and phylogenetic relationships is by using whole chloroplast genomes. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the structural characteristics of Myrtales chloroplasts, compared variation hotspots, and reconstructed the species differentiation time of Myrtales with four fossils and one secondary calibration point. Results A total of 92 chloroplast sequences of Myrtales, representing six families, 16 subfamilies and 78 genera, were obtained including nine newly sequenced chloroplasts by whole genome sequencing. Structural analyses showed that the chloroplasts range in size between 152,214–171,315 bp and exhibit a typical four part structure. The IR region is between 23,901–36,747 bp, with the large single copy region spanning 83,691–91,249 bp and the small single copy region spanning 11,150–19,703 bp. In total, 123–133 genes are present in the chloroplasts including 77–81 protein coding genes, four rRNA genes and 30–31 tRNA genes. The GC content was 36.9–38.9%, with the average GC content being 37%. The GC content in the LSC, SSC and IR regions was 34.7–37.3%, 30.6–36.8% and 39.7–43.5%, respectively. By analyzing nucleotide polymorphism of the chloroplast, we propose 21 hypervariable regions as potential DNA barcode regions for Myrtales. Phylogenetic analyses showed that Myrtales and its corresponding families are monophyletic, with Combretaceae and the clade of Onagraceae + Lythraceae (BS = 100%, PP = 1) being sister groups. The results of molecular dating showed that the crown of Myrtales was most likely to be 104.90 Ma (95% HPD = 87.88–114.18 Ma), and differentiated from the Geraniales around 111.59 Ma (95% HPD = 95.50–118.62 Ma). Conclusions The chloroplast genome structure of Myrtales is similar to other angiosperms and has a typical four part structure. Due to the expansion and contraction of the IR region, the chloroplast genome sizes in this group are slightly different. The variation of noncoding regions of the chloroplast genome is larger than those of coding regions. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Combretaceae and Onagraceae + Lythraceae were well supported as sister groups. Molecular dating indicates that the Myrtales crown most likely originated during the Albian age of the Lower Cretaceous. These chloroplast genomes contribute to the study of genetic diversity and species evolution of Myrtales, while providing useful information for taxonomic and phylogenetic studies of Myrtales.

Abstract Background The Styracaceae are a woody, dicotyledonous family containing 12 genera and an estimated 160 species. Recent studies have shown that Styrax and Sinojackia are monophyletic, Alniphyllum and Bruinsmia cluster into a clade with an approximately 20-kb inversion in the Large Single-Copy (LSC) region. Halesia and Pterostyrax are not supported as monophyletic, while Melliodendron and Changiostyrax always form sister clades. Perkinsiodendron and Changiostyrax are newly established genera of Styracaceae. However, the phylogenetic relationship of Styracaceae at the generic level needs further research. Results We collected 28 complete plastomes of Styracaceae, including 12 sequences newly reported here and 16 publicly available sequences, comprising 11 of the 12 genera of Styracaceae. All species possessed the typical quadripartite structure of angiosperm plastomes, with sequence differences being minor, except for a large 20-kb (14 genes) inversion found in Alniphyllum and Bruinsmia. Seven coding sequences (rps4, rpl23, accD, rpoC1, psaA, rpoA and ndhH) were identified to possess positively selected sites. Phylogenetic reconstructions based on seven data sets (i.e., LSC, SSC, IR, Coding, Non-coding, combination of LSC + SSC and concatenation of LSC + SSC + one IR) produced similar topologies. In our analyses, all genera were strongly supported as monophyletic. Styrax was sister to the remaining genera. Alniphyllum and Bruinsmia form a clade. Halesia diptera does not cluster with Perkinsiodendron, while Perkinsiodendron and Rehderodendron form a clade. Changiostyrax is sister to a clade of Pterostyrax and Sinojackia. Conclusion Overall, our results demonstrate the power of plastid phylogenomics in improving estimates of phylogenetic relationships among genera. This study also provides insight into plastome evolution across Styracaceae.

Abstract To better identify biodiversity hotspots for conservation on Hainan Island, a tropical island in southern China, we assessed spatial variation in phylogenetic diversity and species richness using 18,976 georeferenced specimen records and a newly reconstructed molecular phylogeny of 957 native woody plants. Within this framework, we delineated bioregions based on vegetation composition and mapped areas of neoendemism and paleoendemism to identify areas of priority for conservation. Our results reveal that the southwest of Hainan is the most important hot spot for endemism and plant diversity followed by the southeast area. The distribution of endemic species showed a scattered, rather than clustered, pattern on the island. Based on phylogenetic range‐weighted turnover metrics, we delineated three major vegetational zones in Hainan. These largely correspond to natural secondary growth and managed forests (e.g., rubber and timber forests) in central Hainan, old‐growth forests and natural secondary growth forest at the margins of Hainan, and nature reserves on the island (e.g., Jianfeng and Diaoluo National Nature Reserves). Our study helps to elucidate potential botanical conservation priorities for Hainan within an evolutionary, phylogenetic framework.

Spondias dulcis is a deciduous tree in the family Anacardiaceae. The species originates in South America and now is widely cultivated in tropical areas due to its edible fruits. In this study, we find that the length of the complete plastome of S. dulcis is 162,256 bp. It includes 35 tRNA genes and eight rRNA genes, 86 protein-coding genes and totally 130 genes. The complete plastome of S. dulcis includes a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,459 bp, a large single-copy (LSC) region of 89,353 bp, and two inverted repeats (IRs) regions of 27,222 bp. The total G/C content of S. dulcis is 37.7%. It shows that S. dulcis is closely related to S. mombin within Anacardiaceae. It will contribute to the conservation genetics of S. dulcis and the phylogenetic studies in Anacardiaceae.

Background The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics and prognostic survival of patients with neuroendocrine tumors of the thymus (NETTs), and to develop and validate a nomogram model for predicting the prognosis of patients. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with neuroendocrine tumors of the thymus in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database in the United States between 1988 and 2016. Cox scale risk regression analysis, the Kaplan‐Meier method and log‐rank test were used to carry out the significance test to determine the independent prognostic factors, from which a nomogram for NETTs was established. C‐index and calibration curve were used to evaluate the prediction accuracy of the model. External validation of the nomogram was performed using data from our center. Results A total of 254 patients with NETTs were collected in the SEER database. In the multivariable analysis, T stage, tumor grade, surgery, and chemotherapy were found to be independent factors affecting the prognosis of patients (all P

Non-native plants spread to recipient areas via natural or human-mediated modes of dispersal, and, if the non-native species are invasive, introduction potentially causes impacts on native plants and local ecosystems as well as economic losses. Therefore, we studied the diversity and distributional patterns of non-native plant species diversity in the tropical island province of Hainan, China and its relationships with environmental and socioeconomic factors by generating a checklist of species and subsequently performing an analysis of phylogenetic diversity. To generate the checklist, we began with the available, relevant literature representing 19 administrative units of Hainan and determined the casual, naturalized, or invasive status of each species by conducting field surveys within 14 administrative units. We found that non-native plants of Hainan comprise 77 casual species, 42 naturalized species, and 63 invasive species. Moreover, we found that non-native plant species had diverse origins from North and South America, Africa, and Asia and that the most common species across administrative areas belong to the plant families Asteraceae and Fabaceae. Moreover, the numbers of non-native species distributed in the areas of Hainan bording the coast arer greater than those within interior areas of the province. Among the coastal areas, Haikou has the highest species richness and, simultaneously, the highest values for significantly, positively correlated predictor variables, population and GDP (R2 = 0.60, P < 0.01; R2 = 0.64, P < 0.01, respectively). In contrast, the landlocked administrative units of Tunchang and Ding’an have the smallest number of non-native species, while their populations are less than a quarter of that of Haikou and their GDP less than one tenth. Among natural environmental variables, we determined that the number of non-native species had the strongest correlation with the minimum temperature in the coldest month, which predicts a smaller number of non-native species. Additionally, non-native species are primarily distributed in urban and rural built-up areas and agricultural areas; areas that are dominated by human activities. Overall, our study provides a working checklist of the non-native plants of Hainan as well as a theoretical framework and reference for the control of invasive plants of the province.

We evaluated the predictive value of the ex-vivo PharmaFlow PM platform in measuring the pharmacological activity of drug combinations consisting of 20 different chemotherapy regimens (20 Tx) administered in 104 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. The predicted sensitivities of alternative treatments for each patient were ranked in five 20% categories, from resistant to sensitive (Groups 1–5). The complete remission (CR) rates of the five groups were 0%, 12.5%, 38.5%, 50.0%, and 81.3%, respectively. The heat map showed a good relationship between drug sensitivity with CR (Group 4 + 5 vs. Group 1 + 2+3: 77.5% vs. 27.3%, p = 0.002) and the European Leukemia Net risk group (22.6% vs. 63.6%, p = 0.015). The predicted coincidence rate was 90.9% in Group 1 + 2 and 81.3% in Group 5. According to the recommendations of the PharmaFlow PM platform, the CR rate would have increased by about 16.3% in one cycle. The overall survival (OS) was shorter in patients predicted to be resistant (Group 1 + 2 vs. Group 3 + 4+5, p = 0.086). In multivariable analysis, CR after one cycle was an independent prognostic factor for OS [p = 0.001; 95% CI 0.202 (0.080–0.511)], and ex-vivo chemosensitivity was a potential predictive factor for OS [p = 0.078; 95% CI 0.696 (0.465–1.041)]. To conclude, the PharmaFlow PM platform is a rapid and valuable tool for predicting clinical response and outcomes in AML patients.

We report and characterize the complete plastome of Lonicera gynochlamydea Hemsl. L. gynochlamydea is a shrub, belonging to the family Caprifoliaceae. Our results show that the length of the complete plastome is 154,643 bp, including 131 genes consisting of 84 protein-coding genes, 39 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. The plastome exhibits the typical quadripartite structure and gene content of angiosperms, composed of two inverted repeats (IRs) regions of 23,846 bp, a large single-copy (LSC) region of 88,298 bp, and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,653 bp. The total G/C content in L. gynochlamydea plastome is 38.4%. The complete plastome sequence of L. gynochlamydea will make contributions to the conservation genetics of this species as well as to phylogenetic studies in Caprifoliaceae.

Understanding the drivers of urban plant diversity (UPD) and above ground biomass (AGB) in urbanized areas is critical for urban ecosystem services and biodiversity protection. The relationships between UPD and AGB have been investigated simultaneously. However, the drivers of UPD and AGB have been explored independently in tropical coastal areas at different time points. To fill this gap, we conducted a remote sensing interpretation, field plant plot surveys, and compiled socioeconomic and urban greening management survey data. We conducted spatial analyses to investigate the relationships among UPD and socioeconomic variables across different primary and secondary urban functional units (UFUs) in the tropical urban ecosystems of the coastal city of Haikou, China. The primary UFUs with the highest AGB were the recreation and leisure districts in 2015 and 2021. In 2015, AGB was mainly correlated with the number of herb species in undeveloped land and the districts of industry, business, recreation, and leisure. In 2021, AGB was affected primarily by the frequency of fertilizing, maintenance, and watering. Our study found that the relationship between UPD and AGB varied across time and space in Haikou. The plant diversity and AGB’s response to human activities and socioeconomics appear to have a time-lag effect. These results provide new insights in understanding how management decisions affect urban vegetation and could be used to guide future urban green space planning in Haikou.

The GRAS gene family is one of the most important families of transcriptional factors that have diverse functions in plant growth and developmental processes including axillary meristem patterning, signal-transduction, cell maintenance, phytohormone and light signaling. Despite their importance, the function of GRAS genes in pitaya fruit (Selenicereus undatus L.) remains unknown. Here, 45 members of the HuGRAS gene family were identified in the pitaya genome, which was distributed on 11 chromosomes. All 45 members of HuGRAS were grouped into nine subfamilies using phylogenetic analysis with six other species: maize, rice, soybeans, tomatoes, Medicago truncatula and Arabidopsis. Among the 45 genes, 12 genes were selected from RNA-Seq data due to their higher expression in different plant tissues of pitaya. In order to verify the RNA-Seq data, these 12 HuGRAS genes were subjected for qRT-PCR validation. Nine HuGRAS genes exhibited higher relative expression in different tissues of the plant. These nine genes which were categorized into six subfamilies inlcuding DELLA (HuGRAS-1), SCL-3 (HuGRAS-7), PAT1 (HuGRAS-34, HuGRAS-35, HuGRAS-41), HAM (HuGRAS-37), SCR (HuGRAS-12) and LISCL (HuGRAS-18, HuGRAS-25) might regulate growth and development in the pitaya plant. The results of the present study provide valuable information to improve tropical pitaya through a molecular and conventional breeding program.

Diospyros nigra (J.F.Gmel.) M.R.Almeida is a rare tree in the family Ebenaceae. The species is native to South America, while having been introduced to Florida and Texas (USA), India, Java and Madagascar. Additionally, this species is distributed in Guangdong Province and the southwest portion of Hainan Province, China. Here, we report and characterize the complete plastome of a cultivar of D. nigra. The length of the complete plastome is 157,168 bp, including 131 genes consisting of 84 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes and 8 rRNA genes. The plastome has the typical structure and gene content of angiosperms, including two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 26,095 bp, a large single copy (LSC) region of 86,610 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,386 bp. The total G/C content of the plastome in D. nigra is 37.4%. The complete plastome sequence of D. nigra will make contributions to the conservation genetics of the species, as well as to phylogenetic studies in Ebenaceae.

Syzygium odoratum (Lour.) DC. 1828 is a deciduous shrub in the family Myrtaceae. This species grows in sparse forests, especially in mountains, valleys, and broad-leaved evergreen forests along streams from 100 to 400 m above sea level. The primary distribution is in southern China (e.g. Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, etc.) and other south Asian countries (e.g. Vietnam). Here, we report and characterize the complete plastome from a cultivar of S. odoratum (Lour.) DC. 1828. The complete plastome is 159,352 bp in length with a typical structure and gene content found in angiosperms, including two inverted repeat regions (IRs) of 26,472 bp, a large single-copy (LSC) region of 87,993 bp, and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,415 bp. The plastome contains 132 genes, consisting of 84 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. The overall G/C content in the plastome of S. odoratum is 36.9%. By inferring phylogenetic relationships based on the existing data of related taxa, we find that S. odoratum is most closely related to Syzygium acuminatissimum, (Blume) DC. 1828 given the current sampling. The complete plastome sequence of S. odoratum will provide a useful resource for conservation genetics of this species, as well as for phylogenetic studies involving Myrtaceae.

Background: Bisphenol A (BPA), a widely used plastic monomer and plasticizer, is detectable in blood, urine and semen of a healthy people, with concentrations ranging from 0.1 nM to 10 nM. It has been shown that in vitro exposure of BPA as low as 0.001 nM could significantly inhibited mouse sperm motility and acrosome reaction. However, it is still unclear whether BPA at those physiologically detectable concentration affects human sperm. Methods: The effects of different concentrations of BPA (0, 10−3, 10−2, 10−1, 10, 103 nM) on sperm functions were examined, including human sperm viability, kinematic parameters, hyperactivation and capacitation. Results: BPA caused a remarkable decline in human sperm viability, motility and progressive motility, hyperactivation, capacitation and progesterone-induced acrosome reaction. Mechanism studies showed that BPA could suppress the protein tyrosine phosphorylation level of human sperm, but had no effect on sperm calcium signaling. Conclusions: Physiologically detectable concentrations of BPA may impair human sperm functions via suppressing protein tyrosine phosphorylation of human sperm, implying that environmental pollution of BPA might be a factor contributing to male infertility.

The complete plastome of G. subelliptica, Merr. 1909. The complete length is 158,356 bp, with the typical structure and gene content of angiosperm plastomes, including a large single-copy region (LSC) of 86,220 bp, a repeat region (IRB), and a reverse repeat region (IRA) of 27,399 bp, respectively, and a small single-copy region (SSC) of 17,338 bp. The plastome contains 130 genes, including 85 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. The total G/C content of the plastome is 36.1%.

Citrus australasica (F. Muell.) Swingle belongs to the family Rutaceae. Citrus australasica is native to eastern Australia and southeastern New Guinea, and is mainly concentrated in a small region of northern New South Wales and tropical rainforest areas in southern Queensland. The complete plastome length of C. australasica is 160,335 bp, with the typical structure and gene content of angiosperm plastids, including a 26,592 bp repeat B (IRB) region, 26,952 bp IRA, 87,678 bp large single copy (LSC) region and 18,756 bp small single copy (SSC) region. The plastid contains 135 genes, including 89 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. The total G/C content of the C. australasica plastome is 38.4%. The complete plastome sequence of C. australasica will provide useful resources for conservation genetics research of this species and phylogenetic research of Rutaceae.

Lannea coromandelica (Houtt.) Merr. is a deciduous tree in the family Anacardiaceae, which grows in lowland and hill forests; 100–1800 m. SW Guangdong, S Guangxi, S Yunnan [Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka; cultivated elsewhere in continental SE Asia, such as in Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, where it is probably naturalized]. The length of the complete plastome is 162,460 bp, including 130 genes consisting of 85 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes and 8 rRNA genes. The assembled plastome has the typical structure and gene content of angiosperms plastome, which includes two inverted repeats (IRs) regions of 26,877 bp, a large single copy (LSC) region of 89,599 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 19,107 bp. The total G/C content in the plastome of L. coromandelica is 37.7%. The complete plastome sequence of L. coromandelica will provide contributions to the conservation genetics of this species as well as to phylogenetic studies in Anacardiaceae.

The roles of natural and anthropogenic factors in contributing to the organization of biodiversity at large and small scales have long been challenging to disentangle, and doing so has never been attempted for the island province of Hainan in China based on patterns of taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of endemic plants on the island as a function of anthropogenic and natural variables based on non-metric multi-dimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination and generated generalized linear models (GLMs). We found that the highest phylogenetic diversity (1006) and the lowest mean phylogenetic distance (515.5) was in the provincial capital, Haikou. The NMDS analyses indicated that taxonomic diversity was significantly correlated with industrial revenue (p = 0.006) and population (p = 0.004). Furthermore, most phylogenetic diversity indices were strongly correlated with population and agricultural revenue, while the sampled natural environmental variables were not significantly correlated with plant diversity indices. These findings indicate that anthropogenic factors are the main present-day driving forces of plant diversity in Hainan, though we did detect a significant latitudinal diversity gradient of richness that likely reflects the historical roles of natural environmental factors in the organization of biodiversity on the island. Overall, our results are alarming for biodiversity of the island and indicate that conservation and sustainable use of endemic plant species must be made a critical priority.

Bridelia tomentosa is a deciduous shrub in the family of Phyllanthaceae. It grows in the evergreen primary or secondary thickets or forests in the sea level from 1000 to 1500 m. It distributed in.south China (e.g., Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan etc) and other south Asian countries (e.g. Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia etc). Here, we report and characterize the complete plastome of B. tomentosa. The complete plastome is of 149,958 bp in length with a typical structure and gene content of angiosperm plastome, including two inverted repeat (IRs) regions of 26,354 bp, a large single-copy (LSC) region of 81,355 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 15,895 bp. The plastome contains 129 genes, consisting of 84 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, eight rRNA genes. The overall G/C content in the plastome of B. tomentosa is 36.0%. The complete plastome sequence of B. tomentosa will provide a useful resource for the conservation genetics of this species as well as for phylogenetic studies in Phyllanthaceae.

Balakata baccata belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae and is distributed in Yunnan province, China, and other southeast Asian countries, e.g., Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, etc. Here, we report and characterize the complete plastome of B. baccata. The complete plastome is 163,988 bp in length and contains a typical quadripartite structure and gene content found in angiosperms, including two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 27,274 bp, a large single-copy (LSC) region of 90,946 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,494 bp. The plastome contains 129 genes, consisting of 84 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. The overall G/C content in the plastome of B. baccata is 35.6%. Phylogenetic results show that B. baccata is the earliest diverging lineage of Euphorbioideae. Euphorbia helioscopia + E. esula, E. tirucalli + E. milii and B. baccata have a closer phylogenetic relationship than other taxa within Euphorbiaceae. The complete plastome sequence of B. baccata will provide a useful resource for the conservation genetics of this species as well as for phylogenetic studies in Euphorbiaceae.

Mallotus japonicus is a shrub species in the family of Euphorbiaceae. The study of plastome would be helpful for its phylogenetic study and species identification. The total length of complete plastome for Mallotus japonicus is of 164,912 bp, with typical part-four structure and gene content of angiosperm plastome, including two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 27,829 bp, a large single-copy (LSC) region of 90,319 bp, and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,935 bp. The plastome contains 125 genes, consisting of 80 unique protein-coding genes, 31 unique tRNA gene, four unique rRNA genes (5S rRNA, 4.5S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and 23S rRNA), and five pseudogenes. The overall G/C content in the plastome of Mallotus japonicus is 40.2%. The phylogenetic analysis indicates that M. japonicus is closer to M. peltatus than other species in this study. The complete plastome sequence is conducive to the exploitation and utilization of Euphorbiaceae resources and the phylogenetic study in future.

Xylosma longifolia is a tree species within Salicaceae and is distributed in Guizhou, Yunnan, Fujian, Guangxi, Guangdong, and Hainan provinces of China as well as in Vietnam, Laos, and India. There are no studies utilizing the complete plastome of Xylosma longifolia in the current literature. Therefore, this report provides a reference for the plastid gene sequence of Xylosma longifolia, and it contributes to the phylogenetic placement and species identification. In this report, we described the complete plastome sequence of Xylosma longifolia. The complete plastome length of Xylosma longifolia is 156,938 bp and has the typical quadripartite structure and gene content of angiosperms, including two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 27,514 bp, a large single-copy (LSC) region of 85,221 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 16,689 bp. The plastome contains 130 genes, including 86 protein coding genes, 36 tRNA genes, eight rRNA genes (5S rRNA, 4.5S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and 23S rRNA). The GC content of the plastome is 36.8%. The complete plastome sequence will be a valuable resource for studies involving the phylogenetic inference of Salicaceae.

Vernicia montana Lour. is a deciduous tree species belonging to the family of Euphorbiaceae, distributed in southeast Asia. Here, we report and characterize the complete plastome of Vernicia montana Lour. The complete plastome is of 164,506 bp in length with a typical structure and gene content of angiosperm plastome, including two inverted repeat (IRs) regions of 27,965 bp, a large single-copy (LSC) region of 91,427 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 17,149 bp. The plastome contains 130 genes, consisting of 81 protein-coding genes (six of which are repetitive in IR), 38 tRNA genes (seven of which are repetitive in IR), seven rRNA genes (5S rRNA, 4.5S rRNA, 23S rRNA and 16S rRNA) (three of which are repetitive in the IR), and four pseudogenes. The overall G/C content in the plastome of Vernicia montana Lour. is 35.8%. The complete plastome sequence of montana Lour. will provide a useful resource for the conservation genetics of this species as well as for phylogenetic studies in Euphorbiaceae.

Macaranga tanarius (L.) Muell. Arg. is a tree species within Euphorbiaceae, which can be used for building timber and its extract can be used to treat diabetes. In this report, we describe the complete plastome sequence of Macaranga tanarius. The complete plastome of Macaranga tanarius (L.) Muell. Arg. is of 165,362 bp in length, and it is with typical plastome structure and gene content of angiosperm plastome, including two reverse repeat regions (IRs) of 27,503 bp, large single copy region (LSC) of 91,443 bp, and small single copy (SSC) region of 18,913 bp. The plastome contains 131 genes, including 85 protein coding genes, 38 tRNA genes, eight rRNA genes (i.e., 5S rRNA, 4.5S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and 23S rRNA). The total G/C content of Macaranga tanarius (L.) Muell. Arg.plastome is 35.6%. The complete plastome sequence is conducive to the development and utilization of Euphorbiaceae resources and the phylogenetic study.

Background: Cadmium (Cd), a common environmental heavy metal and endocrine disruptor, is known to exert toxic effects on the testes. However, the mechanisms accounting for its toxicity in mature spermatozoa remain unclear. Methods: Adult male C57BL/6 mice were orally administered with CdCl2 for 5 weeks at 3 mg·kg-1·day-1. Additionally, mouse spermatozoa were incubated in vitro with different doses of CdCl2 (0, 10, 50, 250 µM). Several sperm functions including the sperm motility, viability and acrosome reaction (AR) ratio were then examined. Furthermore, the current and expression levels of both the sperm-specific Ca2+ channel (CatSper) and the sperm-specific K+ channel (KSper) were evaluated by patch-clamping and western blotting, respectively. Results: Our data showed that the motility, viability and AR of sperm exposed to cadmium significantly decreased in vivo and in vitro. Interestingly, these changes were correlated with changes in CatSper but not KSper. Conclusion: The findings indicate sperm dysfunction during both chronic and acute cadmium exposure as well as a specific role for CatSper in the reproductive toxicity of cadmium.

Abstract The PREDICTS project—Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems (https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/our-work/biodiversity/predicts.html)—has collated from published studies a large, reasonably representative database of comparable samples of biodiversity from multiple sites that differ in the nature or intensity of human impacts relating to land use. We have used this evidence base to develop global and regional statistical models of how local biodiversity responds to these measures. We describe and make freely available this 2016 release of the database, containing more than 3.2 million records sampled at over 26,000 locations and representing over 47,000 species. We outline how the database can help in answering a range of questions in ecology and conservation biology. To our knowledge, this is the largest and most geographically and taxonomically representative database of spatial comparisons of biodiversity that has been collated to date; it will be useful to researchers and international efforts wishing to model and understand the global status of biodiversity.

Flueggea virosa is a tropical plant of the Phyllanthaceae family, which has high medicinal value. Here, we report and characterize the complete plastome of F. virosa. The complete plastome is 154,961 bp in length and contains the typical structure and gene content of angiosperm plastome, including two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 27,575 bp, a large single-copy (LSC) region of 83,397 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 16,414 bp. The plastome contains 130 genes, consisting of 80 unique protein-coding genes, 30 unique tRNA gene, 4 unique rRNA genes (5S rRNA, 4.5S rRNA, 23S rRNA and 16S rRNA). The overall A/T content in the plastome of F. virosa is 63.10%. The complete plastome sequence of F. virosa will provide a useful resource for the conservation genetics of this species as well as for phylogenetic studies in Phyllanthaceae.

Nephelium topengii is an evergreen tree of the Sapindaceae family, which can be used as timber. Here, we report and characterize the complete plastome of N. topengii. The complete plastome is 162,944 bp in length and contains the typical structure and gene content of angiosperm plastome, including two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 30,092 bp, a large single-copy (LSC) region of 85,909 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 16,851bp. The plastome contains 130 genes, consisting of 80 unique protein-coding genes, 30 unique tRNA gene, 4 unique rRNA genes (5S rRNA, 4.5S rRNA, 23S rRNA and 16S rRNA). The overall A/T content in the plastome of N. topengii is 62.30%. The complete plastome sequence of N. topengii will provide a useful resource for the conservation genetics of this species as well as for phylogenetic studies in Sapindaceae.

Pseuderanthemum haikangense (Acanthaceae) is a shrubs native to Guangdong, Hainan, Yunnan province of China. In this study, we report and characterize the complete plastome sequence of P. haikangense in order to provide genomic resources helpful for promoting its conservation and medicinal utilization. The complete plastome is 152,849 bp in length and contains the typical quadripartite structure of angiosperm, including two Inverted Repeat (IRs) regions of 25,849 bp, a Large Single-Copy (LSC) region of 83,878 bp and a Small Single-Copy (SSC) region of 17,273 bp. The plastome contains 113 genes, consisting of 79 unique protein-coding genes, 30 unique tRNA gene and 4 unique rRNA genes. The overall A/T content in the plastome of P. haikangense is 61.60%. The complete plastome sequence of P. haikangense will provide a useful resource for the conservation and garden utilization of this species as well as for the phylogenetic studies of Acanthaceae.

Cymbidium tortisepalum (Orchidaceae) has been ranked as an endangered (EN) herb species in China. In this study, we report and characterize the complete plastid genome sequence of C. tortisepalum var. longibracteatum in order to provide genomic resources helpful for promoting its conservation and garden utilization. The complete plastome is 150,198 bp in length and contains the typical quadripartite structure of angiosperm, including two Inverted Repeat (IRs) regions of 25,682 bp, a Large Single-Copy (LSC) region of 85,035 bp and a Small Single-Copy (SSC) region of 13,799 bp. The plastome contains 111 genes, consisting of 77 unique protein-coding genes, 30 unique tRNA gene and 4 unique rRNA genes. The overall A/T content in the plastome of C. tortisepalum var. longibracteatum is 62.90%. The complete plastome sequence of C. tortisepalum var. longibracteatum will provide a useful resource for the conservation and garden utilization of this species as well as for the phylogenetic studies of Orchidaceae.

Magnolia fordiana var. hainanensis (Dandy) Noot. (Magnoliaceae) is an endemic and ornamental tree distributed in Hainan, China. In this study, we report and characterize the complete plastid genome sequence of M. fordiana var. hainanensis in order to provide genomic resources helpful for promoting its conservation and garden utilization. The complete plastome is 160,157 bp in length and contains the typical quadripartite structure of angiosperm, including two Inverted Repeat (IRs) regions of 26,573 bp, a Large Single-Copy (LSC) region of 88,255 bp and a Small Single-Copy (SSC) region of 18,756 bp. The plastome contains 114 genes, consisting of 80 unique protein-coding genes, 30 unique tRNA gene and 4 unique rRNA genes. The overall A/T content in the plastome of M. fordiana var. hainanensis is 60.70%. The complete plastome sequence of M. fordiana var. hainanensis will provide a useful resource for the conservation and garden utilization of this species as well as for the phylogenetic studies of Magnoliaceae.

Croton laevigatus grows as an evergreen tree or shrub with 15 meters height. It is distributed in the dense or open forests of Hainan province, China. Here, we report and characterize the complete plastome of C. laevigatus in an effort to provide genomic resources useful for promoting its systematics research. The plastome of C. laevigatus is found to possess a total length 162,515 bp with the typical quadripartite structure of angiosperms, contains two Inverted Repeats (IRs) of 26,866 bp, a Large Single-Copy (LSC) region of 90,234 bp and a Small Single-Copy (SSC) region of 18,549 bp. The plastome contains 113 genes, consisting of 79 unique protein-coding genes, 30 unique tRNA genes and four unique rRNA genes. The overall A/T content in the plastome of C. laevigatus is 64.10%. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that C. laevigatus is close to C. tiglium within Euphorbiaceae in this study. The complete plastome sequence of C. laevigatus will provide a useful resource for the conservation genetics of this species as well as for the phylogenetic studies of Euphorbiaceae.

Euphorbia milii (Euphorbiaceae) grows as a scrambling shrub with many branches. Here, we report and characterize the complete plastome of E. milii in an effort to provide genomic resources useful for promoting its systematic research. The plastome of E. milii is found to possess a total length of 160,806 bp with the typical quadripartite structure of angiosperms, contains two Inverted Repeats (IRs) of 26,695 bp, a Large Single-Copy (LSC) region of 90,211 bp and a Small Single-Copy (SSC) region of 17,205 bp. The plastome contains 114 genes, consisting of 80 unique protein-coding genes, 30 unique tRNA genes and four unique rRNA genes. The overall A/T content in the plastome of E. milii is of 64.10%. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that E. milii is close to E. tirucalli within Euphorbiaceae in this study. The complete plastome sequence of E. milii will provide a useful resource for the conservation genetics of this species as well as for the phylogenetic studies of Euphorbiaceae.

Elaeagnus glabra is an evergreen vine or climbing shrub with 5 m height. It is widespread in southern China. It grows in the sunny forests or forest margins below 1000 m a.s.l. In this paper, we report and describe the complete plastome of E. glabra in order to provide useful genomic data for its systematic research. The complete plastome of E. glabra is 152,555 bp with a typical quadripartite structure of angiosperms. It contains two Inverted Repeats (IRs) of 25,918 bp, a large single-copy (LSC) of 82,408 bp, and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,311 bp. The complete plastome contains 129 genes, including 83 protein-coding genes, 38 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. The overall A/T content in the chloroplast genome of E. glabra is 62.90%. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that E. glabra is close to E. loureirii within Elaeagnaceae. The complete plastome of E. glabra will provide useful resources for the development and utilization of this species and the phylogenetic study of Rosales.

Mallotus peltatus is a tropical plant of the Euphorbiaceae family, which could be used as a beverage and medicine in Hainan, China. Here, we report and characterize the complete plastome of M. peltatus. The complete plastome is 163,304 bp in length and contains a typical structure and gene content of angiosperm plastome, including two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 27,112 bp, a large single-copy (LSC) region of 89,886 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,840 bp. The plastome contains 131 genes, consisting of 78 unique protein-coding genes, 30 unique tRNA gene, four unique rRNA genes (5S rRNA, 4.5S rRNA, 23S rRNA and 16S rRNA), and eight pseudogenes. The overall A/T content in the plastome of M. peltatus is 64.02%. The complete plastome sequence of M. peltatus will provide a useful resource for the conservation genetics of this species as well as for phylogenetic studies in Euphorbiaceae.

Diospyros is the largest genus (about 485 species) in Ebenaceae. It is a deciduous or evergreen tree or shrub. It grows in pantropical and extending into temperate regions. Here, we report and characterize the complete plastid genome sequences of D. maclurei Merr. and D. hainanensis Merr. in an effort to provide genomic resources useful for promoting their systematics research and potential economic development. The complete plastome of D. maclurei is 157,946 bp in length, including two Inverted Repeat (IR) regions of 26,081 bp, a Large Single-Copy (LSC) region of 87,387 bp, and a Small Single-Copy (SSC) region of 18,397 bp. The plastome contains 114 genes, consisting of 80 unique protein-coding genes, 30 unique tRNA genes, and four unique rRNA genes. The overall A/T content in the plastome of D. maclurei is 62.60%. The complete plastome of D. hainanensis is 157,999 bp in length, including two Inverted Repeat (IR) regions of 26,077 bp, a Large Single-Copy (LSC) region of 87,523 bp, and a Small Single-Copy (SSC) region of 18,322 bp. The plastome contains 114 genes, consisting of 80 unique protein-coding genes, 30 unique tRNA genes, and four unique rRNA genes. The overall A/T content in the plastome of D. hainanensis is 62.60%. The complete plastome sequences of D. Maclurei and D. hainanensis will provide a useful resource for the conservation genetics of the two species as well as for the phylogenetic studies of Diospyros.

The Sino-Japanese Floristic Region (SJFR) is a key area for plant phylogeographical research, due to its very high species diversity and disjunct distributions of a large number of species and genera. At present, the root cause and temporal origin of the discontinuous distribution of many plants in the Sino-Japanese flora are still unclear. Diabelia (Caprifoliaceae; Linnaeoideae) is a genus endemic to Asia, mostly in Japan, but two recent discoveries in China raised questions over the role of the East China Sea (ECS) in these species' disjunctions. Chloroplast DNA sequence data were generated from 402 population samples for two regions (rpl32-trnL, and trnH-psbA) and 11 nuclear microsatellite loci were screened for 549 individuals. Haplotype, population-level structure, combined analyses of ecological niche modeling, and reconstruction of ancestral state in phylogenies were also performed. During the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) period after the Tertiary, Diabelia was potentially widely distributed in southeastern China, the continental shelf of the East China Sea and Japan (excluding Hokkaido). After LGM, all populations in China have disappeared except those in Zhejiang which may represent a Glacial refuge. Populations of Diabelia in Japan have not experienced significant bottleneck effects, and populations have maintained a relatively stable state. The observed discontinuous distribution of Diabelia species between China and Japan are interpreted as the result of relatively ancient divergence. The phylogenetic tree of chloroplast fragments shows the characteristics of multi-origin evolution (except for D. sanguinea). STRUCTURE analysis of nuclear Simple Sequence Repeat (nSSR) showed that the plants of the Diabelia were divided into five gene pools: D. serrata, D. spathulata, D. sanguinea, D. ionostachya (D. spathulata var. spathulata-Korea), and populations of D. ionostachya var. ionostachya in Yamagata prefecture, northern Japan. Molecular evidence provides new insights of Diabelia into biogeography, a potential glacial refuge, and population-level genetic structure within species. In the process of species differentiation, ECS acts as a corridor for two-way migration of animals and plants between China and Japan during glacial maxima, providing the possibility of secondary contact for discontinuously distributed species between China and Japan, or as a filter (creating isolation) during glacial minima. The influence of the ECS in speciation and biogeography of Diabelia in the Tertiary remains unresolved in this study. Understanding origins, evolutionary histories, and speciation will provide a framework for the conservation and cultivation of Diabelia.

Urban green spaces provide a host of ecosystem services, the quantity and structure of which play an important role in human well-being. Rapid urbanization may modify urban green spaces, having various effects on plant diversity. Tropical coastal cities have urbanized rapidly in recent decades, but few studies have been conducted with a focus on their green spaces. We studied the responses of cultivated and spontaneous plants, both key components of urban flora, to the landscape structure of urban green spaces and possible social drivers. We analyzed existing relationships between plant diversity indices, urban green space landscape metrics (using Systeme Probatoire d’Observation de la Terre (SPOT) data,), and social factors, including the type, population density, construction age, and GPS coordinates of each Urban Functional Unit, or UFU. We found that UFUs with more green space patches had higher cultivated and spontaneous species richness than those with fewer green space patches. Spontaneous species richness decreased when green space patches became fragmented, and it increased when green space patches were more connected (e.g., via land bridges). Conversely, cultivated species richness increased with green space patch fragmentation. The phylogenetic diversity of both cultivated and spontaneous plants were weakly associated with green space structure, which was strongly driven by land use. Old UFUs and those with larger populations had more green space patches overall, although they tended to be small and fragmented. Green space patch density was found to increase as the UFU age increased. From the viewpoint of knowledge transfer, understanding the effects and drivers of landscape patterns of urban green spaces could inform the development of improved policies and management of urban green space areas.

Understanding the factors that drive green space composition and richness in heterogeneous urban landscapes is critical for maintaining important ecosystem services and biodiversity. Few studies have been conducted on urban greening and plant diversity at the urban functional unit (UFU) level, although a handful of studies have explored the drivers of greening percentage and its relationships with plant richness in tropical cities. In this study, we conducted field surveys, compiled census and remote sensing data, and performed spatial analyses to investigate the interrelationship between greening percentages, plant diversity, and the socioeconomic variables of different primary and secondary UFUs in the cities of Beijing, Zhanjiang, and Haikou in China. We found that these relationships did not differ significantly between primary and secondary UFUs, and that Parks represented the largest areas of forested land, grassland, and water bodies across all three cities. Moreover, the greening percentages of all UFUs across these three cities were positively correlated with both socioeconomic variables and plant species richness. These relationships can be utilized to guide future green space planning within urban ecosystems.