Abstract:The widespread Sino-Himalayan Delphinium kamaonense Huth is a very common species of weedy nature in Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan and Xizang, China, with its distribution being nearly continuous. Examination of both herbarium specimens and living plants has shown that D. kamaonense var. glabrescens (W. T. Wang) W. T. Wang described from Bomi and Zayu in southeastern Xizang and D. obcordatilimbum W. T. Wang described from Riwoqe also in southeastern Xizang are not essentially different from D. kamaonense. Therefore, both D. kamaonense var. glabrescens and D. obcordatilimbum are reduced to the synonymy of D. kamaonense.

Abstract:Results from recent molecular phylogenetic studies indicated that the generic status for the subgenus Odontostemma (G. Don) Williams of Arenaria L. should be reinstated, and thus new combinations for relevant names included in the subgenus were proposed recently. However, the two names A. dawuensis A. J. Li & Q. Ban and A. shennongjiaensis Z. E. Zhao & Z. H. Shen were neglected in previous treatments. Accordingly, two new combinations for the two names are proposed here:O. dawuense (A. J. Li & Q. Ban) G. Yao, O. shennongjiaense (Z. E. Zhao & Z. H. Shen) G. Yao.

Abstract:In order to understand the development of vascular tissue in Santalum album haustoria, the ontogenesis of vascular tissue in haustoria was observed under laser scanning confocal microscope, light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that the differentiation of haustorium vascular tissue in S. album could be divided into two stages:before and after invasion. The differentiation of vascular tissues of haustorium begin at disk-shaped stage, originating from meristematic cells at thebase of haustorium, and then, they divided into two bunches. Before invasion, the vascular tissues of haustorium are located at the base of haustorium without apical differentiation. After invasion, the vascular tissue started to differentiate and connect into the host roots with absorption function. The vascular bundles of mature haustorium was inverted flask-shaped, and exist on two sides of kernel region. The vascular tissues contained only xylem without phloem. It was proposed that the development of haustorium vascular tissue of S. album was induced by two factors, genetic factor and host root factor. Therefore, these would provide a anatomic basis for studying on semiparasite in Santalum album.

Abstract:In order to screen RNA extracting method from heartwood of Santalum album, five methods were compared, including Trizol method, improved CTAB method, SDS-phenol method, guanidine isothiocyanate-CTAB method, and guanidine isothiocyanate-SDS method. The results showed that it was difficult to extract total RNA by Trizol method and guanidine isothiocyanate-CTAB method, and the improved CTAB method, SDS-phenol method and guanidine isothiocyanate-SDS method could successfully extract total RNA. The SDS-phenol method was not suitable for RNA extraction, because A₂₆₀ nm/A₂₃₀ nm was less than 2.0 and total RNA yield was low with (27.94±1.06) μg g^-1. However, the 28S rRNA and 18S rRNA bands of total RNA extracted by improved CTAB method and guanidine isothiocyanate-SDS method were clear, A₂₆₀ nm/A₂₈₀ nm ranged from 1.8 to 2.0, A₂₆₀ nm/A₂₃₀ nm were more than 2.0, the yields were (79.06±4.22) and (107.00±1.36) μg g^-1, respectively. The Actin segments in total RNA extracted by improved CTAB method and guanidine isothiocyanate-SDS method could amplificated with the same size and sigle band. Therefore, the improved CTAB methodand and guanidine isothiocyanate-SDS method were effective methods to extract total RNA from heartwood of S. album.

Abstract:In order to understand the effect of planting pattern on photosynthesis of Amorphophallus xiei, the photosynthesis and photosynthetic induction were studied under intercropping and monoculture planting patterns. The results showed that the net photosynthetic rate (P_n) of A. xiei under intercropping was 18.97% higher than that under monoculture and the maximum stomatal conductance (g_s-max) was 22.4% lower than that under monoculture. There were high apparent quantum yield (AQY), light saturation point (LSP), carboxylation efficiency (CE) and chlorophyll content as well as lower dark respiration rate (R_d), light compensation point (LCP) and CO₂ compensation point (Г^*) in A. xiei under intercropping. After inducted by high illumination, the photosynthetic induction state (IS) under intercropping was higher than that under monoculture. During photosynthetic induction, the time required to reach 30% and 50% of P_max were short under intercropping. There were negative relation between initial stomatal conductance (gs-initial) and the time required to reach 30%, 50% and 90% of P_max and g_s-max. Therefore, it was suggested that light utilization capicity and carbon balance of A. xiei would enhance by rising AQY and LSP and decreasing R_d and LCP under intercropping with Zea mays, and at the same time, the capacity of facula utilization increased by rapid photosynthetic induction, and thus, increasing carbon gain.

Abstract:In order to understand the changes in morphology and metabolites in leaves of grafted tea seedlings, Camellia sinensis ‘Shuchazao’ as scions and C. oleifera (wild oil tea in Dabieshan) as stocks were grafted, and the morphology and secondary metabolite contents in their leaves were studied. The results showed that the morphology of grafted seedling leaves was more close to C. sinensis, and its morphological indexes of leaves were influenced by C. oleifera. The contents of amino acids, purine alkaloids and polyphenols in grafted seedling leaves greatly increased compared with those of C. oleifera. The content of theanine in grafted seedling leaves was significantly higher than that of C. oleifera. Moreover, phenolic acids were detected in grafted seedling leaves but not in leaves of C. oleifera. Caffeine content in grafted seedling leaves decreased obviously compared with that of C. sinensis. These results would produce positive impact on the cultivation of C. sinensis and C. oleifera, and play positive roles in the biosynthesis and transportation mechanisms of secondary metabolites in tea plants.

Abstract:To understand the effect of high temperature stress on Pyrus trees, the changes in antioxidant substance, antioxidant enzymet and osmotic substance in leaves of 2-year-old ‘Huangguan’ (P. pyrifolia ‘Cuiguan’) and ‘Cuiyu’ (P. bretschneideri×P. pyrifolia) seedlings were measured, and the expressions of related genes at different stages were analyzed by qRT-PCR. The results showed that under high temperature stress, the chlorophyll content in leaves of ‘Huangguan’ and ‘Cuiyu’ reduced, while MDA content gradually increased. The activities of POD and CAT in two cultivars were both reduced, but those in ‘Huangguan’ were higher than in ‘Cuiyu’. The Pro content in two cultivars was increased with stress time. And the ASA content increased at first and then decreased in two cultivars. The contents of IAA and ABA decreased with stress time in two cultivars, but those in ‘Huangguan’ were higher than in ‘Cuiyu’. The expressions of related genes in leaves were consistent with the changes in contents of ASA, IAA and ABA. Therefore, the heat resistance of ‘Huangguan’ was stronger than that of ‘Cuiyu’, and the turning point of physiological change in two cultivars was the fourth day under high temperature.

Abstract:In order to explore excellent Cajanus cajan (pigeonpea) resource, the genetic diversity of 10 quality traits and 18 quantitative characters of 10 pigeonpea genotypes was studied and the agronomic characters were cluster analyzed. The results showed that the genetic diversity index of all quality traits were high, among which fresh pod color was the highest at 1.9219, and those of upper petal embellishment color, fresh seed color and dry grain color were all 1.4855, those of dry grain stain, dry grain umbilical ring color, and strophiole or not were all 0.8813, those of lobular leaf shape, petal color and plant type were the lowest at 0.7219. Ten genotypes of pigeonpea could be divided into three groups by cluster analysis, such as medium diameter and sparse, medium diameter and dense, and thick diameter and dense. These could provide a scientific basis for the variety breeding of pigeonpea.

Abstract:In order to understand the effect of shading on growth of Osmanthus fragrans, the changes in physio- ecological characters of three-year-old O. fragrans seedlings in summer were studied under shading in Chengdu. The results showed that the specific leaf weight decreased, chlorophyll b content increased, but the chl a/b was reduced with increment of shading rate. The soluble sugar and soluble protein contents in leaf decreased under shading, while those had the most significant effect under 80% shading. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content in leaf reduced, catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities decreased with increasing of shading rate, and MDA content decreased significantly under 55%-80% shading. The light saturation point (LSP), light compensation point (LCP), maximum net photosynthetic rate (P_max) and dark respiration rate (R_d) all decreased, but the apparent quantum effciency (AQE) increased under shading. Otherwise, instantaneous light energy utilization (LUE) increased, net photosynthetic rate (P_n) and stomatal conductance (Gs) decreased, inversely intercellular CO₂ concentration (Ci) increased with the shading rate increment. Therefore, the seedlings of O. fragrans could adapte to strong light environment by improving P_n and antioxidant enzyme activities; enhance weak light utilization ability by decreasing SLW、LSP、LCP and R_d, and increasing chlorophyll content, Ci and AQE, LUE. So, it could grow better under moderate shading (25% and 55% shading rate) in summer.

Abstract:In order to understand the dominant species and water tolerance of aquatic bryophytes in hydro- fluctuation belt of Lengshui River Nature Reserve, Guihzou, China, the contents of Chl a+b, methane dicarboxylic aldehyde (MDA) and soluble sugar, and activities of peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) of five dominant bryophytes were determined, and their water tolerances were evaluated. The results showed that there were 11 dominant bryophytes in Lengshui River Nature Reserve, in which Rhynchostegium riparioides, Palamocladium euchloron, Hyophila involute, Reimersia inconspicua and Fissidens grandifrons were the most dominant species with average dominance≥0.02. With the extension of waterlogging time, the content of Chl a+b in five mosses decreased significantly (P<0.05), and the contents of soluble sugar and MDA, activities of POD, SOD and CAT increased at first then decreased, showing strong water tolerance in five mosses for long term. The comprehensive evaluation value D of Rhynchostegium riparioides was the highest (0.953) by PCA and subordination function method. Therefore, it was suggested that Rhynchostegium riparioides had strong adaption to waterlogging, could be used as pioneer species in vegetation recover and restoration in hydro-fluctuation belt of Lengshui River.

Abstract:The aim was to understand the relationship among dominant species in secondary forest of Zhoushan islands. Based on investigation of 1 hm² fixed plot in Taohua island, the niche characteristic and interspecific association of 15 dominant species were studied. The results showed that the niche breadth of Litsea coreana var. sinensis, Machilus thunbergii, Mallotus japonicus were broader than other species, with Levins and Hurlbert' niche breadth values of 1.3563, 1.3170, 1.3097 and 0.8572, 0.7373, 0.7154, respectively, while Celtis sinensis, Maclura tricuspidata, Cornus macrophylla had narrow niche breadths. There were 39 species pairs with niche proportional similarity more than 0.5, accounting for 37.1% of the total pairs. The broader niche of two species has, the bigger of their niche proportional similarity is. The species with broad niche could have big niche overlap with another species with narrow niche. On the contrary, the species with narrow niche could have low niche overlap with another species with broad niche. There were not significant negative associations overall among 15 dominant species. The X² test and association coefficient showed that species pairs with negative association were more than that with positive association. Therefore, the interspecific association of dominant species in secondary forest of Zhoushan islands was relatively loose with certain independent at low extent. The community was not mature and in the unstable stage of dynamic succession. The pioneer species Ficus erecta was in decline stage. The secondary forest will gradually recover to zonal evergreen broad-leaved forest, which is dominant by Litsea coreana var. sinensis and Machilus thunbergii.

Abstract:To study the chemical constituents of Camellia oleifera (Abel.), ten compounds were isolated from the 95% ethanol extract. On the basis of spectral data, their structures were identified as 3α-spinasterol (1), ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one (2), (R)-de-O-metillasiodiplodin (3), 4',5,7-trihydroxyflavanone (4), emodin (5), 6-ethyl-5-hydroxy-2,7-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (6), ω-hydroxyemodin (7), macrophorin A (8), negunfurol (9), 1-(3',5'-dimethoxy)-phenyl-2-(4"-hydroxy) phenylethane (10). Compounds 1-9 were obtained from this species for the first time, and compounds 2, 3, 5-9 were obtained from the genus Camellia for the first time.

Abstract:In order to understand the chemical constituents of Curcuma longa L., fourteen compounds were isolated from its aerial parts. On the basis of spectral data, they were identified as quercetin 3-O-α-L-rhamnopy- ranoside (1), kaempferol 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→2)-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (2), hesperetin 7-O-α-L-rham- nopyranosyl(1→6)-β-D-glucopy ranoside (3), 7-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4E,6E-heptadien-3-one (4), 1,7-bis-(4-hydr- oxyphenyl)-1E,4E,6E-heptadien-3-one (5), 3-hydroxy-4-methoxycinnamic acid (6), p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (7), vanillin (8), 4-hydroxy-3-methlbenzal acid (9), 3-hydroxy-4-methlbenzal acid (10), 4-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)- benzoic acid (11), (R)-6-hydroxy-3-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-6-methy-lcyclohex-2-enone (12), 6,9-dihydroxy-4,7-mega- stigmadien-3-one (13) and β-daucosterol (14). Compounds 1-3, 12 and 13 were isolated from this plant for the first time. Aerial parts of C. longa lacked curcumin derivatives, which are functional components common in the rhizomes.

Abstract:The aim of this work was to obtain a natural hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic drug lead cajanonic acid A (CAA) by saponification of a natural product cajanolactone A (CLA). A mixture containing about both 50% amount of CAA and pinostrobin was treated with 0.65% KOH in aqueous ethanol for 3.5 h under reflux, the mixed products were isolated through column chromatography and identified by physico-chemical and spectroscopic analysis. Besides the expected product CAA, four minor saponificative products were obtained, and identified as 1-(2,6-dihydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-ethanone (2), pinostrobin chalcone (3), cajanotone (4), and compound 1. Compound 1, a structural isomer of CAA, was found to be a new compound and named as cajanonic acid B. These would provide a new experimental basis for the further research and development bioactive component of Cajanus cajan leaves.

Abstract:In order to reveal structure, accumulation parts and contents of chemical constituents in Aster tataricus L. f. roots, the root structure at different developmental stages were observed by paraffin section, the accumulation parts of triterpenoid saponins and flavonoids were located by histochemistry, and the their contents were determined by HPLC. The results showed that the primary root of A. tataricus could be divided into epidermis, cortex and stele, and the secondary root included exodermis, cortex and vascular tissue. The secrete channels located inside the cortex, which number was consistent with the phloem bundles. The center of root differentiated the pith with the root thickening. Triterpenoid saponins were mainly distributed in phloem and interior cortex, while flavonoids were in cortex and pith. The content of shionone in lower part of root was more than that in upper, but the contents of quercetin and kaempferol in lower part were only one-third of those in upper. Therefore, it was suggested that the lower root would retain in processing for comprehensive utilization of the resources.