ABSTRACT
Whether Barbella flagellifera (Cardot) Nog. belongs to Neodicladiella has not yet been determined, and a study of the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of B. flagellifera would aid in determining its evolutionary position. In this study, we aimed to sequence the complete cp genome of B. flagellifera, an epiphytic species found in tropical and subtropical forests. The complete cp genome is 125,025 base pairs (bp) long and appears as a typical quadrilateral structure with a large single-copy (86,854 bp), a small single-copy (18,473 bp), and a pair of inverted repeats (19,698 bp). The overall GC content of the sequence is 41.0% and the genome encodes 127 genes, including 82 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNAs, and eight rRNAs. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that B. flagellifera clustered into a clade with other Hypnales groups with high bootstrap support. The complete cp genome presented here will provide helpful information for species identification of Barbella genus and Neodicladiella genus in Meteoriaceae.
ABSTRACT
Four species of moss genus Schistidium are reported for the first time from China. All of them have been found in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Ecological and distributional details of the newly recorded species are provided and their local distribution is mapped. Photographs of the species are attached. Checklist of Schistidium species and identifying key are added. Considering the present records, Schistidium consists of 15 species in China.
ABSTRACT
Plants in flammable ecosystems have different response strategies to fire, such as increasing germination after exposure to smoke and break of dormancy through heat shock. Peatlands are ecosystems that are more likely to be disturbed by fire with increasing temperatures, but it is not clear how fire affects spore germination of Sphagnum, the dominant plants in peatlands. Here, we hypothesize that Sphagnum spores respond positively to single and combined treatments of moderate heat and smoke (by increased germinability), while spore germinability decreases in response to high temperature. We exposed the Sphagnum spores of four selected species (S. angustifolium, S. fuscum, S. magellanicum and S. squarrosum) collected from peatlands in the Changbai Mountains to heat (40, 60 and 100 °C), on its own and combined with smoke-water treatments. Our results showed that a heat of 100 °C inhibited the spore germination or even killed spores of all species, while spore germination of three (Sphagnumangustifolium, S. fuscum and S. squarrosum) of the four species was promoted by 40 and 60 °C heat compared to the control (20 °C). Hollow species (S. angustifolium and S. squarrosum) showed a stronger positive responsive to heat than hummock species (S. fuscum and S. magellanicum). Sphagnumfuscum spores responded positively to the combined heat and smoke treatment while the other species did not. For the first time, we demonstrate the positive effects of heat on its own and in combination with smoke on spore germination in wetland mosses, which may be important for the establishment and persistence of peatmoss populations after fire.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Marchantia polymorpha L. is a kind of Chinese herbal medicine and has various biological activities including antioxidant and antifungal. However, it is not clear about the antitumor effect and mechanism of M. polymorpha. We prepared M. polymorpha ethanol extract (MPEE) and investigated its antitumor effect on hepatocellular carcinoma cells both in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: The viability of hepatocellular carcinoma cells was detected by MTT assay. The distribution of cell cycle was analyzed by propidium iodide (PI) staining. The morphology of nuclei was observed by Hoechst 33258 staining. Apoptosis was detected by Annexin V/PI staining. JC-1 fluorescent probe and DCFH-DA were used to detect the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔψM) and the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), respectively. Caspase inhibitors were used to test the function of caspase in the induction of apoptosis. Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot were used to evaluate the levels of mRNA and protein, respectively. Differentially expressed genes and signaling pathways were identified by transcriptome analysis. The H22 tumor mouse model was used to detect the antitumor effect of the extract. RESULTS: MPEE significantly suppressed the migration and growth of BEL-7404, HepG2 and H22 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner through induction of apoptosis characterized by chromosomal condensation and cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 and G2/M phases. MPEE induced mitochondria-dependent apoptosis via upregulation of Bax and downregulation of Bcl-2 to reduce mitochondrial membrane potential and increase the release of cytochrome c. The levels of cleaved caspase-8 and -9 were significantly increased, which sequentially activated caspase-3 to cleave PARP. We further found that MPEE significantly increased ROS production and activated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress associated-apoptotic signaling pathway. Moreover, MPEE significantly inhibited H22 tumor growth in mouse model and improved the survival of tumor mice. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that MPEE suppressed hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth through induction of apoptosis via intrinsic- and ER stress-associated pathways.
ABSTRACT
A total of 46 species and two varieties of the traditionally interpreted genus Orthotrichum are currently known to occur in China. They represent five genera, including Orthotrichum (29 species), Lewinskya (14 species and two varieties), and Nyholmiella and Leratia that are represented by a single species each. The fifth genus Florschuetziella, also consisting of only one species, F. scaberrima, is an entirely neglected representative of the China's moss flora. A list of all accepted taxa is presented and for each taxon all literature records and herbarium specimens are enumerated for provinces in which they have been recorded, and their distribution is mapped. A key to determination of Chinese orthotrichalean mosses is presented. A chronological list of 63 species and varieties and two designations, O. catagonioides and O. microsporum which have never been validly published, reported from China in the years 1892-2020 is presented. Four species, Orthotrichum brasii, O. hooglandii, O. elegans and O. gymnostomum are excluded from the bryoflora of China and Lewinskya affinis var. bohemica and Orthotrichum schimperi are recorded for the first time from this country. Phytogeography of the Chinese taxa of the orthotrichalean mosses is considered and they are grouped into eight phytogeographical elements and five sub-elements.
ABSTRACT
The Bachu mushroom, previously identified as Helvella leucopus, is characterized by a saddle-shaped, to irregularly lobed pileus, with a gray, brown to blackish hymenium and a whitish to pale receptacle surface and white, terete stipe with enlarged basal grooves. It has high economic value, mostly as a dietary supplement in western China, and its medicinal functions have raised broad interest. In the present paper species of the Bachu mushroom in Xinjiang Autonomous Region, western China were investigated with morphology and DNA sequence data. Phylogenetic analyses inferred from ITS, 28S and TEF1 sequence data strongly supported lineages corresponding to morphological features. The Bachu mushroom, which differs from the European Helvella leucopus, comprises two distinct new species, namely Helvella bachu and Helvella subspadicea. In this paper we introduce the new species with descriptions and figures and compare them with similar taxa. The European Helvella spadicea is also re-examined, described and illustrated.
