Abstract:Recent molecular systematic studies have consistently given results markedly different from the traditional classifications of Ephedra based on such macromorphological characters as the bract nature of ripe female cones, suggesting a serious conflict occurs between molecular and morphological characters. The cuticular micromorphology of the seed outer envelope (SOE) of living Ephedra encompassing 53 extant taxa of Ephedra were investigated. The results indicates that sculpture of SOE of Ephedra bears useful characters and includes 3 major types, viz. the Transverse lamellar type (T-type), the Papillate type (P-type), and the Smooth-Striated-Reticulate type (S-type). Further analyses implied that sculptural characters of SOE show correlation neither with macromorphology nor with molecular within Ephedra, indicating additional conflicting characters between macromorphology, micromorphology, and molecular. Several megafossil species associated with the Gnetales from Early Cretaceous in both Europe and E Asia were found to bear the T-type sculpture of SOE, indicating that species of Ephedra with the T-type seed envelope were once highly diversified in Early Cretaceous.

Abstract:Leaf epidermis characteristics of 41 species and 4 varieties, belonging to 14 genera in Rhamnaceae were observed under scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that the epidermis ornamentation of leaf in Rhamnaceae were corrugate or reticulate, surface nearly smooth with striate or scale. Stomata occurred only on abaxial surface except for Colubrina asiatica, and they are elliptic, ovate or round. The stomatal lids were smooth or had striate, granular, nodular, or scale appendages, and its inner margin were smooth, shallow wavy or revolute. The leaf micromorphology features could be used to distinguish some specific or intraspecific taxa.

Abstract:The megasporogenesis, megagametophyte and embryo development in Flaveria bidentis (L.) Kuntze were observed by using paraffin section method. The results showed that the stigma had 2 split, ovary was unilocular with bicarpellate, one ovule, basal placenta, unitegmic, tenuinucellate, anatropous ovule, and developed integumentary tapetum. Archesporial cell differentiated below the nucellar epidermis developed into megaspore mother cell, which formed a linear tetrad by meitotic divison, one megaspore at micropylar end developed into a functional megaspore, and the others degraded. The development of embryo sac was Monosporic Type. The mononucleate embryo sac underwent three successive mitosis to form mature embryo sac with seven cells, egg cell and two synergids near the micropyle, a binuclear central cell in the center of embryo sac, three antipodal cells in the chalazal. The embryo development could be divided into four stages, such as globular embryo, heart-shaped embryo, torpedo embryo and mature cotyledon embryo. The development of the endosperm was Cell Type, and that of embryo belonged to Asterad Type. The mature seed had an endosperm jacket layer, and the secretory structure and secretions were observed in seed capsule, placenta and bract.

Abstract:The geographical distribution, floristic characteristics, and species differentiation of gymnosperm in Wuyi Mountains, Fujian Province, were studied based on field investigation. The results showed that Wuyi Mountains of Fujian was a core region of Huangshan-Wuyi Mountains centers, there were 39 species of gymnosperms, belonging to 10 families and 24 genera. The geographical distribution patterns belonged to mid-altitude bulge type along latitude. Flora of gymnosperm had notable subtropical mountainous characteristic, the proportion of tropical areal-type decreased with the increment of altitude, while the proportion of temperate and endemic to China areal-types increased. The phylogenetic differentiation intensity of gymnosperm decreased from northern to southern of Wuyi Mountains.

Abstract:The morphological characteristics of an epiphytic dinoflagellates isolated from Xincun Harbor waters, Hainan Province was observed under light microscope and scanning electron microscope, and its 18S rRNA sequence was analysed. The strain was identified as Prorocentrum rhathymum，a new record from China, which was once reported as Prorocentrum mexicanum in South China Sea for synonym.

Abstract:The gas exchange characteristics of aerial roots of Ficus microcarpa L. f. were measured by using LI-6400XT portable photosynthesis system. The results showed that the aerial roots had obvious respiration and transpiration function. The effect factors on respiration were in order of root age > air temperature >light intensity > relative humidity by orthogonal experiment, and root age > relative humidity > air temperature > light intensity for transpiration. The young aerial root had higher respiration and transpiration rates than the old roots, which highly lignified old aerial roots had low respiratory rate, their transpiration turned to absorption of moisture from air. On the basis of single-factor-analysis, the CO2 exchange rate and H2O exchange rate of young aerial root had linear relationship with temperature and relative humidity, respectively. The higher of temperature, the higher of the CO2 exchange rate, the the stronger of the respiration, the higher of relative humidity, the smaller of the H2O exchange rate, the lower of transpiration. The H2O exchange rate of old mature aerial root had linear relationship with air relative humidity, the higher of relative humidity, the smaller of the H2O exchange rate, the lower of transpiration.

Abstract:On the basis of the lowest temperature data from 1971 to 2005 in Jianyang of Fujian Province, the mathematical model of extreme values distribution was constructed, and the self-mortality temperature of Eucalyptus dunnii was determined by conductivity. The lowest temperatures were forecasted as -7.47℃, -7.47~-8.5℃ and 8.68℃ in 0~5 years, 5~10 years and over 10 years, respectively. The extreme low-temperature distribution method of cold resistance was put forward for the first time, which combined the extreme lowest-temperature distribution model with conductivity. The method could widely used in quantitative evaluation and individual selection of the cold resistance for different species and areas.

Abstract:Cross-intron primers were designed according to the nucleotide sequence of the Actin of Phalaenopsis, and Actin homology fragments from Cymbidium sinense and C. goeringii were obtained by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and PCR using the first chain of cDNA and the genomic DNA as templates. The results showed that the Actin franments from C. sinense and C. goeringii were 1335 bp in length with 1086 bp coding sequences, encoding a protein of 362 amino acids. They were named as CsACT1 and CgACT1 (GenBank accession number were GU181354 and GU181353), respectively. Both of CsACT1 and CgACT1 consisted of three conservative introns. The amino acid sequence shared over 90% to those of other plants in the GenBank, so that the Actin genes from Cymbidium were highly conservative. The CsACT1 and CgACT1 could express at similar level in root, stem, leaf, pedicel, bud and floral organ, so that CsACT1 and CgACT1 might be constitutive expression Actin genes.

Abstract:The differential proteins of floral reversion buds at different stages in longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) were compared using proteomics method. The results showed that α-tubulin could up-regulate in floral reversion buds of longan, and its gene α-tubulin was cloned using RACE method. A full length of 1641 bp cDNA, with a 1350 bp open reading frame, was obtained (GenBank accession number: FJ479617). When α-tubulin gene was transformed into E. coli and expressed, a 49.6 kD heterologous protein verified as α-tubulin by Western blotting was obtained. Different expression of α-tubulin at transcription and translation levels using RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively, showed that α-tubulin up-regulated in longan floral reversion buds. It was one of reasons that floral reversion buds were different from normal flowering buds.

Abstract:The total protein was extracted from Lichi chinensis pericarp by using three methods, such as trichloroacetic acid (TCA)-acetone, acetone and phenol. The results showed that the total protein yield was the highest by phenol extraction method, and protein bands were the most and clear in one dimentional SDS-PAGE. About 870 clear protein spots were detected by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and silver staining with isoelectric points at pH 4~8, and relative molecular weight of protein ranged from 15.0 to 85.0 kD.

Abstract:Four steroids were isolated from the fermented mycelia of F. rabenhorstii A20, an endophytic fungus from Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Gilg. On the basis of spectral data, they were identified as 5α,8α-epidioxy-(22E,24R)-ergosta-6,22-dien-3β-ol (1), 3β,6β,7α-trihydroxy- (24R)-ergosta-8(14),22-diene (2), 3β,5α,9α-trihydroxy-(22E,24R)-ergosta-7,22-dien-6-one (3), and 3β,5α,6β-trihydroxy-(22E,24R)-ergosta-7,22-diene (4). All compounds were isolated from the genus Fimetariella for the first time.

Abstract:Eight compounds were isolated from the ethanol extract of Lycopodium japonicum. On the basis of spectral data, they were identified as 3β,21β,24-trihydroxyserrat-14-en-16-one (1), 3α,21β,24-trihydroxyserrat-14-en-16-one (2), 3β,21β,24-trihydroxyserrat-14-en (3), 3α,21β,24-trihydroxyserrat-14-en (4), onocerin (5), stigmasta-5-en-3β,7α-diol (6), stigmasta-5-en-3β,7β-diol (7), β-sitosterol (8). Compound 1 was a new compound, and compounds 3, 4, 6, 7 were obtained from this species for the first time, and the spectral data of compound 2 was reported for the first time.

Abstract:The basic/helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors play important roles in various developmental processes of eukaryotes. They constitute a superfamily of transcription factors that have been well characterized in mammalian systems, in which considerable structural, functional, and phylogenetic analyses have been performed. The family has been not only implicated in plant growth and developmental processes, including formation of trichome, photomorphogenesis and light signal transduction, but also involved in stress responses and secondary metabolism. The progress of the basic structure and biological function of plant bHLH transcription factors was reviewed.

Abstract:Nitrogen is one of the most important nutrients for plant growth, and one of key factors in limiting plant biomass and economic yield. Plants have evolved diverse and complex transport systems to facilitate uptake and reallocation of nitrogen compounds. Except uptake of inorganic nitrogen such as nitrate and ammonium by their specific transporters, plants can also uptake organic nitrogen including amino acids, small peptides and proteins by their corresponding transporters as nitrogen source. In higher plants, there are two types of nitrate transporters, known as low affinity nitrate transporter family (NRT1) and high affinity nitrate transporter family (NRT2). On the other hand, two families of small-peptide transporters have been recognized in eukaryotes, which are the oligopeptide transporter family (OPT) and the peptide transporter family (PTR). OPTs can transport tetra- and pentapeptides, while PTRs can transport di- and tripeptides. Interestingly, PTR family is similarity to NTR1 family based on their protein sequence, and their members usually mixed together to cluster into a homologous group called NTR1/PTR family. This article briefly reviewed on the research progress of nitrate transporter family and small-peptide transporter family in their substrates and physiological roles in plants.