Comparative metabolomics and transcriptome analysis provide insights into branching changes induced by heterografting in Pinus massoniana seedlings.

The investigation of dwarfing rootstocks for the establishment of high-generation seed orchards is a prospective avenue of research. In this investigation, Pinus massoniana, Pinus yunnanensis var. pygmaea (P. pygmaea), and P. elliottii seedlings were used as rootstocks for grafting with P. massoniana scions. Grafting P. massoniana onto P. pygmaea rootstock resulted in observable phenotypic alterations in lateral branches, apical buds, and needle length. Certain characteristic metabolites of rootstocks, such as fatty acyls, pregnenolones, steroids, and steroid derivatives, were found to be highly expressed in scions after grafting. RNA-seq analysis revealed MYB-related, SBP, and bHLH demonstrating a significant positive correlation, while C2H2 and Orphans exhibited negative correlations with the differential intensity of metabolites related to lipids and lipid-like molecules. This study offers valuable insights for the establishment of rootstock breeding programs.

Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome of Gymnocladus chinensis Baill.

Gymnocladus chinensis Baill (Fam.: Leguminosae; Trib.: Caesalpinieae) are widely distributed in China. In this study, we assembled the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of G. chinensis. The total cp genome size was 165,315 bp in length, containing a large single-copy region of 92,356 bp, a small single-copy region of 20,449bp, and a pair of inverted repeat regions of 26,255 bp. The all GC content of G. chinensis cp was 34.95%. It encodes a total of 105 unique genes, including 75 protein-coding genes, 26 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes. Seventeen genes contain a single intron, and two genes (ycf3 and clpP) have two introns. Phylogenetic analysis results strongly supported that G. chinensis was closely related to Angylocalyx braunii.

Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome of Camellia anlungensis.

Camellia anlungensis is a rare and ornamental plant. To contribute to its conservation, the complete chloroplast (cp.) genome of C. anlungensis was sequenced and assembled by high-throughput sequencing technology, and its characteristics were analyzed and clustering relationship was studied in the present study. The complete cp. genome of C. anlungensis is 156,587 bp in length, containing a LSC region of 86,262 bp, a SSC region of 18,339 bp and two IR regions of 25,993 bp. The overall A + T content of C. anlungensiscp genome is 62.7%. The annotated complete cp. genome contains 114 genes, including 80 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that C. anlungensisis grouped with C. leptophylla, C. ptilophylla, C. pubicosta, C. grandibracteata and C. sinensis.

Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome of Pinus yunnanensis var. pygmaea.

Pinus Yunnanensis var. pygmaea (Fam: pinaceae; Gen: Pinus), is a mutant of Pinus yunnanensis. Franch. To contribute to its conservation, the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of P. yunnanensis var. Pygmaea was sequenced and assembled by high-throughput sequencing technology. The results show that P. yunnanensis var. pygmaea cp genome contained 101 genes, including 64 protein-coding genes, 33 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes. The overall GC content of the cp genome is 38.50%. A phylogenetic tree reconstructed by 16 cp genomes reveals that P. yunnanensis var. pygmaea is most related with Pinus taiwanensis.