Abstract:Both herbarium and field observations have shown that Delphinium yanwaense W. T. Wang described from Weixi in northwestern Yunnan, China, is not essentially different from D. yuanum Chen, a species very common in northwestern Yunnan and highly variable in the degree of leaf division. We therefore reduce the former to the synonymy of the latter.

Abstract:Morphological comparisons indicate that Tainia emeiensis (K. Y. Lang) Z. H. Tsi, previously recorded as endemic to Sichuan, China is conspecific with T. macrantha Hook. f. and reduced as a heterotypic synonym.

Abstract:Berberis paraspecta Ahrendt is an uncertain species in the literatures after its publication in 1961. Thus, some important taxonomic characters of this species were revised based on field surveys and population samplings in Yulongxueshan Mountain, Yulong Xian, northwestern Yunnan Province, combining with checking the type specimen. The fruits are 1-5-fascicled with average of 2.23±1.18, ovaries or young fruits contain 1 to 3 ovules with average of 2.07±0.29, the ripe fruits are black-purple in color, epruinose, contain 1 to 3 seeds with average of 1.77±0.44. The results showed that the key characteristics of 1-seeded and solitary fruits recorded in all relevant literatures doesn’t exist in both the wild populations and the type specimen of B. paraspecta. The coefficients of variation in the taxonomic characters of fruits, seed numbers, ovules numbers, leaves and spines of B. paraspecta were analyzed. Furthermore, photos on the morphology of both living plants in the wild and the type specimen are provided to fill the gap of absence of illustration of B. paraspecta in extant literatures including Flora of China.

Abstract:In order to understand the leaf morphological characteristics of leaves in Setaria, the anatomical structure of leaves in five Setaria species were studied for by using paraffin section and the freehand section methods. The results showed that the anatomical characteristics of leaf epidermis in five species were similar. The length of long cell and short cell, stomatal size and thickness of leaf and cuticular layer had significant differences among five species. And the shape of long cell, pattern of anticlinal wall, shape of stomatal subsidiary cells, and number of prickle hairs could be used to identify species. The correlation analysis showed that there were significant negative correlations between stomatal density and stomatal length, stomatal width. Besides, the thickness of bulliform cells had significant positive correlations with thickness of cuticular layer and adaxial epidermis for 5 species. According to leaf epidermal traits in Gramineae, the evolution trend was in the order of S. viridis → S. glauca and S. faberii → S. plicata and S. chondrachne. These could provide basic data for the study of systematics and evolution in Setaria.

Abstract:I.yunguiensis is one of the existing ancient relict plant only distributed in Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, which is a important sample to the study on paleoecology and plant evolutionary in Yunnan and Guizhou area, because of the sharp attenuation of its wildlife groups, I. yunguiensis was listed as the first grade state protection, but so far, we do not yet know its endangered mechanism clearly. In this study, the I. yunguiensis female gametophyte come from artificial culture, we use semithin section technology to observe every development phase of it, and the results are as follows: 1.The germination rate of megaspore is 26%; 2.The female gametophyte is heterotrophic, and development in the megaspore membrane during its lifetime; 3.There are only two neck canal cells and zero ventral canal cell in the female gametophyte of I. yunguiensis. 4.Reported the relevance between the egg and the neck canal cell, useing parafin section; 5.The mainly barriers of the female reproductive structure contains the following points, female gametophyte stop developing during the free nuclear stage, less neck wall cell or arranged disorders, neck canal cell abnormal, the apoptosis of egg and so on. This article provided informative gist both in reproductive biology and endangered mechanism study, the free nuclear is one of important steps in reproductive biology and systematics study of Isoetes; The missing ventral canal cell may be a characteristic of the simplified evolutions about Isoetes.

Abstract:In order to understand the function of somatic embryogenesis receptor-like kinase gene (DoSERK) from Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo, the full-length cDNA of DoSERK was cloned based on transcription sequences data. The results showed that DoSERK had high homology to SERK gene in other plants, encoding 633 amino acids. Bioinformatics analysis showed that DoSERK was a hydrophilic protein locating in plasma membrane. DoSERK had typical domains of SERK proteins, containing one signal peptide, one specific proline-rich region, five leucine-rich repeat motifs, one transmembrane domain and one conservative protein kinase domain. Phylogenetic tree based on SERKs revealed that Dendrobium officinale was close to Cyrtochilum loxense and Cattleya maxima of Orchidaceae. DoSERK could widely express in tissues of Dendrobium officinale, and the expression was high in roots of seedlings. So, it was suggested that DoSERK not only involved in somatic embryogenesis, but also in many other processes of growth and development.

Abstract:In order to understand the mechanism underlying the difference between self-rooting juvenile clone and donor clones, the extent and pattern of cytosine methylation in genomic DNA of Hevea brasiliensis were assessed by using the approach of methylation-sensitive amplification polymorphism（MSAP）. The results showed that notable changes in MSAP profiles of genomic DNA obtained from tissues during somatic embryogenesis. .The level of genomic DNA methylation in anther is the highest in all tissues, while the level of genomic DNA methylation in somatic embryo is the lowest in all tissues. Changes in types of MSAP bands among different tissues were frequently observed, including appearance and disappearance of type I, II, and III MSAP bands.. These results clearly demonstrate the complexity of DNA methylation change during somatic embryogenesis. DNA hypomethylation going with somatic embryogenesis appears to be a necessary step toward transcriptional activation in gene expression.

Abstract:In order to obtain genetic transformation system of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), its cotyledon nodes with one cotyledon of ‘Chengjiang 7’ was used as explants, the regeneration system and Pti4 genetic transformation system by Agrobacterium-medium were studied. The results showed that the optimum mediums for aseptic seedling, adventitious bud introduction and adventitious bud elongation were MSB5 + 6-BA 3.0 mg L–1, MSB5 + 6-BA 1.0 mg L–1 + KT 0.06 mg L–1 and MSB5 + 6-BA 0.5 mg L–1 + IBA 0.2 mg L–1, respectively. Adventitious buds could rapidly rooting on MS medium to obtain full plantlets. The cotyledon node was used as receptor, the pit4 gene mediated by Agrobacterium was successfully transformed into the genome of resistant buds of ‘Chengjiang 7’. Therefore, the establishment of high efficient regeneration system for cowpea laid basis for studying on genetic transformation.

Abstract:In the present study, one WRKY transcription factor, designated as MaWRKY11, was isolated and identified from Digital Gene Expression Data (DGE) of banana fruit. MaWRKY11 contains double WRKY conserved domains and belongs to Group I of WRKY family. Subcellular localization indicated that MaWRKY11 was exclusively localized in the nucleus, implying that it was a nuclear protein. Transactivation assay showed that MaWRKY11 possessed transcriptional activity in yeast cells and the transcriptional domain located at its N-terminus. Moreover, real-time quantitative PCR displayed that MaWRKY11 was induced by chilling stress, and MeJA treatment which could alleviate chilling injury of banana fruit, up-regulated the expression of MaWRKY11. In addition, C-terminus of MaWRKY11 was used as a bait to screen its potential interacting proteins by using yeast two-hybrid system, and it was found that MaWRKY11 could interact with Early Responsive to Dehydration Protein, MaERD, which was also induced by cold. Taken together, these results suggest that MaWRKY11 might respond to chilling stress through interacting with stress-related proteins, such as MaERD.

Abstract:The experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different types and levels of potassium fertilizer on plant growth, cell protective enzymes and endogenous hormones in flowering Chinese cabbage. Both of two types of potassium fertilizer (KCl, K2SO4) included 5 K2O levels respectively and in total of 9 treatments. The K2O levels was as follows: 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 kg.(666.7m2)-1. The results showed that both KCl and K2SO4 fertilizer could increase the activities of POD and CAT, and the contents of IAA and GA3, but decreased MDA content, and thus increased the yield of flowering Chinese cabbage. With the increasing of potassium levels from 0 to 6 kg.( 666.7m2 )-1, the contents of IAA and GA3, the activities of POD and CAT and flower stalk yield increased significantly, however, when the potassium levels increased for further, the contents of IAA and GA3 decreased quickly, and POD activities and flower stalk yield kept stable. At the same potassium levels, two types of potassium fertilizer had no effect on plant growth, flower stalk yield and GA3 contents of leaves. At 0～6 kg.(666.7m2)-1 of potassium fertilizer, the POD activities in leaves fertilized by KCl were higher than those fertilized by K2SO4, but at levels of 9～12 6kg.(666.7m2)-1, K2SO4 fertilizer exerted higher promotion on POD activity. CAT activities in leaves fertilized by 6kg.(666.7m2)-1 of KCl and MDA contents in leaves fertilized by 3 kg.(666.7m2)-1 of KCl were lower than those fertilized by same levels of K2SO4. In contrary, treatment with 6kg.(666.7m2)-1 and 12kg.(666.7m2)-1 of KCl exerted higher promotion on IAA contents than K2SO4 fertilizer. At other fertilizer levels, two types of potassium fertilizer had no effects on CAT activity, MDA and IAA contents. In concluded, although two potassium types exerted different influence on the reactive oxygen species metabolic system and endogenous hormones in plants, they had no effects on the plant growth and flower stalk yield of flowering Chinese cabbage at the same levels of potassium fertilizer. Thus, in the field production, KCl fertilizer can be used to save the cost instead of K2SO4 fertilizer, and the effect of 6 kg.(666.7m2)-1 of KCl fertilizer showed the best.

Abstract:To explore whether crop plant can recognize its kin neighbors, and how it responds in different environmental conditions, field studies were conducted, with the interaction effects of three factors, including neighbor identity (kin plant, non-kin plant and stranger plant), plant density and soil nutrient level, on the aboveground biomass allocation of Setaria italica. Results showed that the net reproductive biomass allocation and seed biomass allocation of S. italica planted with neighboring kins increased and the vegetative biomass allocation decreased significantly than those planted with neighboring non-kins. Under high plant density, the ear length, net reproductive biomass allocation and seed biomass allocation of kin group of S. italica were significantly higher than those of non-kin group (P<0.05), while the vegetative biomass allocation was lower. As soil nutrient level increased, the proportion of biomass allocation to seed of S. italica planted with neighboring kins significantly increased, while that of vegetative biomass allocation significantly decreased (P<0.05). It suggested that S. italica can recognize its kin neighbors, and this ability was regulated by plant density and soil nutrient level. Under high plant density and soil nutrient level, the ability of S. italica to recognize its kin neighbors tended to be stronger.

Abstract:This study was undertaken to establish an optimal and reasonable design for TDP method to be used in bamboo water use owning to the special structure of bamboo species. By using the method of combining water-injection induced hydraulic pressure and sap flow changing device together with whole-plant container weighing in verifying the Granier empirical formula and calibrating the coefficient. In addition, we observed structure of vascular bundle in 5 bamboo species (Phyllostachys edulis、Bambusa chungii、Bambusa textilis、Arundinaria amabilis、Bambusa vulgaris). Vascular bundles were randomly scatted across the culms in uneven. Development degree of vascular bundles was different which vascular bundles close to the inside of clum were better than outside. Vascular bundles close to the inside of culm had better transporting water capability than outside. In the cut bamboo experiments, we found that Fd and K followed a power function and all the R2＞0.83. This suggested TDP method was an applicable technique for assessing sap flow density in bamboo species. Furthermore, whole-plant container weighing method corrected the equation coefficients and gained the new sap flow formula for every bamboo kind. The new sap flow formula was different from the Grnaier empirical formula which a was several times more than original a. The daily transpiration calculated by new equation and Granier empirical formula had a significant difference, especially during the peak hours (at noon) of sap flow in one day . Our study concluded that as long as the TDP method is carefully verificated and Granier empirical formula is corrected, then TDP method is an applicable technique for assessing water use in bamboo species.

Abstract:The plant centromere is the most important chromosome domain mediating the assembly of kinetochore. The rapid divergent evolution of centromeric repeat sequences and function conservation of centromeres among different species ensure correct segregation and faithful transmission of chromosome in mitosis and meiosis. Along with the development of chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), ChIP-chip, and ChIP-sequencing (ChIP-seq) technologies, three milestone discoveries have achieved in plant centromere research since the last 20 years, such as a lot of new knowledge on the structure, function, and evolution of centromeres from model plants, the fundamental kinetochore protein CENH3 used to delimiting the size and boundaries of centromere, the neocentromeres activated from non-centromeric regions stably transmitted to subsequent generations. The research progress on structure, function, and evolution of plant centromeres are reviewed and the remaining questions of plant centromere studies are discussed.

Abstract:Botanical gardens are considered to have played an important role in the studies of plant science , biodiversity conservation and sustainable utilization of plant resources of the world. They are also served as public education and knowledge dissemination centers, and performed an important function in cultural inheritance and historical continuity. The South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK and the Missouri Botanical Garden, USA are comprehensively compared and analyzed in three aspects, i.e., species conservation, science research, and science communication. Some suggestions are put forward for the future development of South China Botanical Garden, which will have important reference value for the development of the Chinese botanical garden community in the future.