Zhenghai Sun’s research while affiliated with Southwest University and other places

Bract coloration is one of the key ornamental traits in Bougainvillea, yet research has predominantly focused on phenotypic color traits and pigment composition, with limited understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying color formation. This gap hinders the improvement and innovation in bract coloration. To elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of bract coloration in Bougainvillea and to enhance the utilization of its germplasm resources, this study employed the Illumina Novaseq 6000 sequencing platform to conduct transcriptomic sequencing on 21 samples of bracts exhibiting seven distinct phenotypes. Comparative analysis against Nr, Pfam, EggNOG, GO, and KEGG databases annotated 90,279 unigenes. The highest annotation rates were achieved with the Nr (40.13%), GO (30.44%), and EggNOG (25.64%) databases. Among the species annotated, Beta vulgaris (20.08%) and Chenopodium quinoa (14.58%) shared the highest homology with Bougainvillea bract transcriptomes. WGCNA analysis identified 12 positively correlated tissue-specific modules, of which 2 are related to bract color formation. By comparing transcriptome data and genes within these specific modules against the KEGG database, a total of 321 unigenes associated with bract color formation in Bougainvillea were discovered. Among these, 220 unigenes are involved in anthocyanin synthesis, 43 unigenes are involved in betalain synthesis, 23 unigenes are annotated as Chlorophyll a-b binding protein genes, and 35 unigenes participate in carotenoid synthesis. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) validation of 16 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) including PAL2, CHS1, ANS, BZ1, 6GT, CDOPA5GT, ANR, CHS2, and DOPA, revealed significant expression differences among magenta, yellow, white, and cherry-colored bracts, suggesting their potential as candidate genes for bract color development. This study not only enriches the transcriptomic data of Bougainvillea but also identifies genes associated with bract coloration, providing a valuable theoretical basis for future gene cloning, genetic engineering, and breeding efforts in Bougainvillea.

Illigera grandiflora, a kind of traditional medicinal liana, belongs to the Illigera Blume of the Hernandiaceae. In this study, we reported the characteristics of complete plastome for I. grandiflora. Its total plastome was 156,138 bp in length, comprising a large single-copy region(LSC) of 84,931 bp, a small single-copy region (SSC) of 18,544 bp, and a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions of 26,549 bp. The overall GC content was 39.16% (LSC, 37.77%; SSC, 33.89%; IR, 43.21%). The plastome encoded 134 genes, including 83 protein-coding genes, 42 transfer RNA genes, and 10 ribosomal RNA genes. The relationships in our phylogeny showed that the two Illigera species are located in the same clade, with Hernandia nymphaeifolia being the next sister group, followed by Wilkiea huegeliana.

Mining the gene of histidine content in barley grain helps with the breeding of functional barley varieties. The study constructed a recombinant inbred lines (RILs) containing 193 families derived from the cross between Ziguangmangluoerling (ZGMLEL) (♀) and Schooner No.3 (♂). The histidine (HIS) content in the grain of the mapping population and its parents were determined by an automatic amino acid analyzer. The HIS content of ZGMLEL was 0.53 mg/g. The grain HIS content of Schooner No. 3 was 0.21 mg/g, and the grain HIS content of population ranged from 0.23 to 0.54. Genetic linkage maps, including those of seven chromosomes of barley, were constructed by using 180 pairs of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, with a total genetic distance of 2671.03 cM and average marker spacing of 14.84 cM. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) IciMappingV3.3 was used to analyze QTL of HIS content in barley grains, and three QTLs were detected. Mapping results showed that the three loci were located on chromosomes 2H, 4H, and 7H, respectively. The major QTL with a contribution rate of 10.11% was located on barley chromosome 4H (HVBAMMGB84-BMAG0808). The additive effect is positive (0.025). Thus, it comes from the high-value parent ZGMLEL. Another major QTL with a contribution rate of 13.75% was located on barley chromosome 7H (GBM1303-GMS056). The minor QTL with a contribution rate of 6.01% was located on chromosome 2H (Scssr03381-Scssr07759). The additive effects of 4H and 7H QTLs were negative (− 0.02 and − 0.033). So, they came from the male parent Schooner. The results provided a reference for further fine mapping, cloning, and transformation of HIS genes in barley grains.

Illigera celebica is an evergreen woody vine that belongs to genus Illigera Bl in the family Hernandiaceae and has medicinal value. The complete chloroplast genome of I. celebica was sequenced to determine its phylogenetic location with respect to the other species under the Laurales. Its whole chloroplast genome is 156,123 bp in length, and comprises a large single-copy region (LSC, 84,913 bp), a small single-copy region (SSC,18,775 bp), and a pair of inverted repeats (IRs, 26,217 bp). The overall GC content is 39.2% (LSC, 37.8%; SSC, 33.9%; IR, 43.4%). Maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysise (TVM + F + R2 model) was conducted using 15 complete chloroplast genomes of Laurales, and the results confirmed that Hernandia nymphaeifolia and Wilkiea huegeliana were located in the same lineage.

Eriobotrya bengalensis (Roxb.) is a subtropical plant under the family Rosaceae with high economic and medicinal value. The whole chloroplast genome of E. bengalensis was sequenced to better understand its phylogenetic position relative to other Rosaceae species. The total length of the E. bengalensis chloroplast genome was 159,270 bp, which was composed of a large single-copy (LSC) region of 87,362 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 19,184 bp, and a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) with a length of 26,362 bp separated by LSC and SSC. The total G + C content of the whole chloroplast genome was 36.7%. Phylogenetic analysis of maximum likelihood (TVM + F+R2) was completed using 15 complete chloroplast genomes of Rosaceae species. The results of phylogenetic analysis show that sisterhood exists in E. bengalensis with nine other species of Eriobotrya.

Eriobotrya malipoensis Kuan is an important wild woody evergreen tree within the genus Eriobotrya Lindl belonging the family Rosaceae. To better determine its phylogenetic location with respect to the other Eriobotrya species, the complete plastome of E. malipoensis was sequenced. The whole plastome is 159,313 bp in length, consisting of a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions of 26,344 bp, one large single-copy (LSC) region of 87,270 bp, and one small single-copy (SSC) region of 19,355 bp. The overall G + C content of the whole plastome is 36.7%. Further, maximum likelihood phylogenetic analyse (TVM + F+R2 model) was conducted using 14 complete plastome of the Rosaceae. Our phylogeny supports the relationships: sisterhood of the E. malipoensis and E. fragrans Champ, flowed E. japonica Lindl.

Low temperature stress severely hampers rice productivity, and hence elaborating chilling-mediated physiochemical alterations and unravelling cold tolerance pathways will facilitate cold resilient rice breeding. Various cold tolerant Near-isogenic lines (NILs) selected at the booting stage through backcrossing of a japonica landrace Lijing2 (cold tolerant) with cold sensitive Towada (a japonica cultivar). The cold tolerance attributes of NILs was validated over two years by evaluating the spikelet fertility followed by correlation of nineteen morphological traits with the rate of seed setting (RSS). Results revealed BG, FG, 1-2IL, RSLL, and UIL were significantly correlated with RSS and had nearer marker interval distance with cold tolerance in QTL analysis. Two QTLs, qCTB-7-a and qCTB-7-b, were found for RSS based on a mixed linear model. Alleles of two QTLs were contributed by Lijing2 and genetic distances between the peaks were 0.00 and 0.06cM, which explained 5.70% and 8.36% variation, respectively, One QTL for 1-2IL, RSLL, and ILBS, while two QTLs for FG, BG, and UIL were also identified. These findings can be exploited to engineer low temperature stress tolerant rice in times of climate change.

Functional ingredients in blueberry have the best health benefits. To obtain a better understanding of the health role of blueberry in chronic disease, we conducted systematic preventive strategies for functional ingredients in blueberry, based on comprehensive databases, especially PubMed, ISI Web of Science, and CNKI for the period 2008–2018. Blueberry is rich in flavonoids (mainly anthocyanidins), polyphenols (procyanidin), phenolic acids, pyruvic acid, chlorogenic acid, and others, which have anticancer, anti-obesity, prevent degenerative diseases, anti-inflammation, protective properties for vision and liver, prevent heart diseases, antidiabetes, improve brain function, protective lung properties, strong bones, enhance immunity, prevent cardiovascular diseases, and improve cognitive decline. The anthocyanins and polyphenols in blueberry are major functional ingredients for preventive chronic disease. These results support findings that blueberry may be one of the best functional fruits, and further reveals the mechanisms of anthocyanins and polyphenols in the health role of blueberry for chronic disease. This paper may be used as scientific evidence for developing functional foods, nutraceuticals, and novel drugs of blueberry for preventive chronic diseases.

Luculia plants are famed ornamentals with sweetly fragrant flowers.Luculia yunnanensisHu is an endemic plant from Yunnan Province, China. Headspace-solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) was used to identify the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of the different flower development stages ofL. yunnanensisfor the evaluation of floral volatile polymorphism. The results showed that a total of 40 compounds were identified at four different stages. The main aroma-active compounds were 3-carene, α-cubebene, α-copaene, δ-cadinene, and isoledene. Floral scent emission had the tendency to ascend first and descend in succession, reaching its peak level at the initial-flowering stage. The richest diversity of floral volatiles was detected at the full-flowering stage. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that the composition and its relative content of floral scent differed at the whole flower development stage. In comparison with the other two species ofLuculia(L. pinceanaandL. gratissima), the composition and its relative content of floral scent were also different among the tree species.

Luculia plants are famed ornamental plants with sweetly fragrant flowers, of which L. pinceana Hooker, found primarily in Yunnan Province, China, has the widest distribution. Solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS) was employed to identify the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from different flower development stages of L. pinceana for the evaluation of floral volatile polymorphism. Peak areas were normalized as percentages and used to determine the relative amounts of the volatiles. The results showed that a total of 39 compounds were identified at four different stages of L. pinceana flower development, including 26 at the bud stage, 26 at the initial-flowering stage, 32 at the full-flowering stage, and 32 at the end-flowering stage. The most abundant compound was paeonol (51%-83%) followed by (E,E)-α-farnesene, cyclosativene, and δ-cadinene. All these volatile compounds create the unique fragrance of L. pinceana flower. Floral scent emission offered tendency of ascending first and descending in succession, meeting its peak level at the initial-flowering stage. The richest diversity of floral volatile was detected at the third and later periods of flower development. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that the composition and its relative content of floral scent differed throughout the whole flower development. The result has important implications for future floral fragrance breeding of Luculia. L. pinceana would be adequate for a beneficial houseplant and has a promising prospect for development as essential oil besides for a fragrant ornamental owing to the main compounds of floral scent with many medicinal properties.