Characterization of Firmiana danxiaensis plastomes and comparative analysis of Firmiana: insight into its phylogeny and evolution.

BACKGROUND: Firmiana danxiaensis is a critically endangered and ecologically important tree currently only found in four locations in Danxia or Karst habitats in northern Guangdong Province, China. The specialized habitat preference makes it an ideal model species for study of adaptive evolution. Meanwhile, the phylogenetic relationships of F. danxiaensis in four locations under two landforms are unclear. Therefore, we sequenced its complete chloroplast (cp.) genomes and conducted comprehensive interspecific and intrageneric plastome studies. RESULTS: The F. danxiaensis plastomes in four locations showed a typical quadripartite and circular structure that ranged from 160,832 to 161,206 bp in size, with 112 unique genes encoded. Comparative genomics showed that the plastomes of F. danxiaensis were relatively conserved with high similarity of genome organization, gene number, GC content and SSRs. While the genomes revealed higher biased codon preferences in Karst habitat than those in Danxia habitats. Eighteen and 11 divergent hotpots were identified at interspecific and intrageneric levels for species identification and further phylogenetic studies. Seven genes (clpP, accD, ccsA, ndhH, rpl20, rpoC2, and rps4) were under positive selection and may be related to adaptation. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that F. danxiaensis is sister to F. major and F. simplex. However, the interspecific relationships are not consistent with the habitat types. CONCLUSIONS: The characteristics and interspecific relationship of F. danxiaensis plastomes provide new insights into further integration of geographical factors, environmental factors, and genetic variations on the genomic study of F. danxiaensis. Together, our study will contribute to the study of species identification, population genetics, and conservation biology of F. danxiaensis.

Cheilolejeunea zhui (Lejeuneaceae, Marchantiophyta), a new species with moniliate ocelli from Guangxi, China.

A new ocellate liverwort species, Cheilolejeunea zhui (Lejeuneaceae), is described from Guangxi, China. The new species is similar to the neotropical C. urubuensis in having moniliate ocelli in the leaf lobes and in general appearances but differs in having obliquely spreading leaves, obtuse to subacute leaf apex, thin-walled leaf cells with distinct trigones, shallowly bifid female bracteole apex, and numerous ocelli in its perianths. Molecular phylogeny of data from three regions (nrITS, trnL-F, and trnG) confirmed the systematic position of this new species to be sister to C. urubuensis, well apart from the remaining members of the genus. Based on morphological and molecular evidence, Cheilolejeunea sect. Moniliocella sect. nov. is proposed to accommodate C. urubuensis and C. zhui. The discovery of C. zhui represents the fourth known species in Cheilolejeunea with linearly arranged ocelli.

Liverworts show a globally consistent mid-elevation richness peak.

The study of elevational gradients allows to draw conclusions on the factors and mechanisms determining patterns in species richness distribution. Several earlier studies investigated liverwort diversity on single or few elevational transects. However, a comprehensive survey of the elevational distribution patterns of liverwort richness and their underlying factors is lacking so far. This study's purpose was to fill this gap by compiling an extensive data set of liverwort elevational patterns encompassing a broad diversity of mountains and mountain ranges around the world. Using polynomial regression analyses, we found a prevalence of hump-shaped richness patterns (19 of 25 gradients), where liverwort species richness peaked at mid-elevation and decreased towards both ends of the gradient. Against our expectation and unlike in other plant groups, in liverworts, this pattern also applies to elevational gradients at mid-latitudes in temperate climates. Indeed, relative elevation, calculated as the percentage of the elevational range potentially inhabited by liverworts, was the most powerful predictor for the distribution of liverwort species richness. We conclude from these results that the admixture of low- and high-elevation liverwort floras, in combination with steep ecological gradients, leads to a mid-elevation floristic turnover shaping elevational patterns of liverwort diversity. Our analyses further detected significant effects of climatic variables (temperature of the warmest month, potential evapotranspiration, and precipitation of the warmest month) in explaining elevational liverwort richness patterns. This indicates that montane liverwort diversity is restricted by high temperatures and subsequent low water availability especially towards lower elevations, which presumably will lead to serious effects by temperature shifts associated with global warming.

Different Predictors Shape the Diversity Patterns of Epiphytic and Non-epiphytic Liverworts in Montane Forests of Uganda.

We studied the influence of regional and local variables on the liverwort diversity within natural forest vegetation of Uganda to contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms and processes determining species richness. To this end, we compared the species richness distribution patterns of epiphytic and non-epiphytic liverworts (Marchantiophytina) in 24 plots in the forests of four Ugandan national parks. We recorded a total of 119 species and subspecies from 18 families, including 16 new species records for the country. We used generalized linear models (GLMs) and the relative variable importance of regional and local climatic and environmental variables to assess their respective impact on the species diversity. We found that the richness patterns of total and epiphytic richness were largely driven by regional climatic factors related to temperature and water-availability. In contrast, species diversity of non-epiphytic and rare species was additionally strongly determined by local-scale microhabitat factors such as height of forest canopy and slope inclination, reflecting the availability of suitable microhabitats. We conclude that macroclimatic variables perform well in predicting epiphytic liverwort richness, whereas the adequate prediction of non-epiphytic richness requires site-specific variables. Also, we propose that richness of epiphytic liverworts will be impacted more directly by climate change than richness of non-epiphytic and rare species.

Revision of Senegalia in China, and notes on introduced species of Acacia, Acaciella, Senegalia and Vachellia (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae).

The present work represents the first comprehensive taxonomic revision of Acacia sens. lat. (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae) in China, focusing on the indigenous species. Critical reassessments of specimens and re-definition of previously recorded species have resulted in recognising 21 indigenous species under Senegalia, a segregate of the former Acacia sens. lat. Detailed botanical profiles are provided for these species, together with a diagnostic line drawing and distribution map; photographs of living plants are provided for more than half the species. Terser treatments are also provided for the 15 species from four genera that are regarded as major introductions of Acacia sens. lat. to the country: Acacia Mill. (12 spp.), Acaciella Britton & Rose (1 sp.), Senegalia Raf. (1 sp.) and Vachellia Wight & Arn. (1 sp.). An identification key to all Acacia sens. lat. species in China is provided. The indigenous species of Senegalia in China belong to sect. Monacanthea (Vassal) Maslin, comb. nov., and the introduced ones to sect. Senegalia. As a consequence of this study, the number of Senegalia species now recognised for China has almost doubled. Six new species are described: Senegalia clandestina Maslin, B.C.Ho, H.Sun & L.Bai, sp. nov.; Senegalia guangdongensis Maslin, B.C.Ho, H.Sun & L.Bai, sp. nov.; Senegalia obliqua Maslin, B.C.Ho, H.Sun & L.Bai, sp. nov.; Senegalia orientalis Maslin, B.C.Ho, H.Sun & L.Bai, sp. nov.; Senegalia prominens Maslin, B.C.Ho, H.Sun & L.Bai, sp. nov.; Senegalia stipitata Maslin, B.C.Ho, H.Sun & L.Bai, sp. nov. Four new combinations are established: Senegalia garrettii (I.C.Nielsen) Maslin, B.C.Ho, H.Sun & L.Bai, comb. & stat. nov.; Senegalia kerrii (I.C.Nielsen) Maslin, B.C.Ho, H.Sun & L.Bai, comb. & stat. nov.; Senegalia kunmingensis (C.Chen & H.Sun) Maslin, B.C.Ho, H.Sun & L.Bai, comb. & stat. nov.; Senegalia macrocephala (Lace) Maslin, B.C.Ho, H.Sun & L.Bai, comb. nov. Senegalia andamanica (I.C.Nielsen) Maslin, Seigler & Ebinger and S. macrocephala are new records for China. A lectotype is designated for Acacia teniana Harms and 2nd step lectotypifications effected for Acacia delavayi Franch., Acacia insuavis Lace, Acacia pruinescens Kurz and Acacia yunnanensis Franch. Former holotype citations are corrected to lectotype for Acacia hainanensis Hayata, Acacia macrocephala Lace, Acacia oxyphylla Graham ex Benth. and Acacia philippinarum Benth. A neotype is designated for Acacia arrophula D.Don. China is a principal area of species-richness for Senegalia in Asia. Senegalia displays a high degree of endemism within China and almost half the species are endemic or near-endemic, with Yunnan the most species-rich and species-diverse Province.

Regulation of the NRF2 transcription factor by andrographolide and organic extracts from plant endophytes.

The transcription factor NF-E2 Related Factor-2 (NRF2) is an important drug target. Activation of NRF2 has chemopreventive effects in cancer and exerts beneficial effects in a number of diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, inflammatory diseases, hepatosteatosis, obesity and insulin resistance. Hence, there have been great efforts to discover and characterize novel NRF2 activators. One reported NRF2 activator is the labdane diterpenoid andrographolide. In this study, we identified the mechanism through which andrographolide activates NRF2. We showed that andrographolide inhibits the function of KEAP1, a protein that together with CUL3 and RBX1 forms an E3 ubiquitin ligase that polyubiquitinates NRF2. Andrographolide partially inhibits the interaction of KEAP1 with CUL3 in a manner dependent on Cys151 in KEAP1. This suggests that andrographolide forms Michael acceptor dependent adducts with Cys151 in KEAP1 in vivo, leading to inhibition of NRF2 ubiquitination and consequently accumulation of the transcription factor. Interestingly, we also showed that at higher concentrations andrographolide increases NRF2 protein expression in a Cys151 independent, but likely KEAP1 dependent manner, possibly through modification of other Cys residues in KEAP1. In this study we also screened secondary metabolites produced by endophytes isolated from non-flowering plants for NRF2-inducing properties. One of the extracts, ORX 41, increased both NRF2 protein expression and transcriptional activity markedly. These results suggest that endophytes isolated from non-flowering or other plants may be a good source of novel NRF2 inducing compounds.

A revision of the fern genus Oleandra (Oleandraceae) in Asia.

The Asiatic species of Oleandra (Oleandraceae) are revised. We reduce a large number of species to Oleandra neriiformis and Oleandra sibbaldii, we provide a revised circumscription of Oleandra cumingii and Oleandra undulata and we establish the identity of Oleandra vulpina. In total, we recognize 9 species, with full synonymy, descriptions and distribution maps. A list of identifications is appended.