Integrative analysis of transcriptome and target metabolites uncovering flavonoid biosynthesis regulation of changing petal colors in Nymphaea 'Feitian 2'.

BACKGROUND: Nymphaea (waterlily) is known for its rich colors and role as an important aquatic ornamental plant globally. Nymphaea atrans and some hybrids, including N. 'Feitian 2,' are more appealing due to the gradual color change of their petals at different flower developmental stages. The petals of N. 'Feitian 2' gradually change color from light blue-purple to deep rose-red throughout flowering. The mechanism of the phenomenon remains unclear. RESULTS: In this work, flavonoids in the petals of N. 'Feitian 2' at six flowering stages were examined to identify the influence of flavonoid components on flower color changes. Additionally, six cDNA libraries of N. 'Feitian 2' over two blooming stages were developed, and the transcriptome was sequenced to identify the molecular mechanism governing petal color changes. As a result, 18 flavonoid metabolites were identified, including five anthocyanins and 13 flavonols. Anthocyanin accumulation during flower development is the primary driver of petal color change. A total of 12 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway were uncovered, and these DEGs were significantly positively correlated with anthocyanin accumulation. Six structural genes were ultimately focused on, as their expression levels varied significantly across different flowering stages. Moreover, 104 differentially expressed transcription factors (TFs) were uncovered, and three MYBs associated with flavonoid biosynthesis were screened. The RT-qPCR results were generally aligned with high-throughput sequencing results. CONCLUSIONS: This research offers a foundation to clarify the mechanisms underlying changes in the petal color of waterlilies.

Analysis of proanthocyanidins and flavonols in the seedpods of Chinese Antique Lotus: A rich source of antioxidants.

Antique Lotus (Nelumbo) is a perennial aquatic plant with unique historical significance and cultural value, whereas its potential economic value hasn't been fully explored. The present study showed that lotus seedpods had significantly higher antioxidant capacity than other parts by FRAP, ABTS, and ORAC assays and analyzed the proanthocyanidins and flavonols in the seedpods of Antique Lotus. Polyphenols contributed to great antioxidant activity and 51 polyphenols were identified by UPLC-TQ-MS analysis. In which, 27 compounds were identified from lotus seedpods for the first time, including 20 trimers, 5 dimers and 2 tetramers of proanthocyanidin. Total proanthocyanidins explained 70%-90% of the different antioxidant activities and the content of proanthocyanidin trimers showed the strongest correlations with the antioxidant activities. This study provided a fundamental reference for the research of polyphenols in lotus and found that Antique Lotus seedpod extracts have the promising prospects of additives used in feed and food processing.

A chromosome-level genome of Syringa oblata provides new insights into chromosome formation in Oleaceae and evolutionary history of lilacs.

Lilacs (Syringa L.), a group of well-known ornamental and aromatic woody plants, have long been used for gardening, essential oils and medicine purposes in East Asia and Europe. The lack of knowledge about the complete genome of Syringa not only hampers effort to better understand its evolutionary history, but also prevents genome-based functional gene mining that can help in the variety improvement and medicine development. Here, a chromosome-level genome of Syringa oblata is presented, which has a size of 1.12 Gb including 53 944 protein coding genes. Synteny analysis revealed that a recent duplication event and parallel evolution of two subgenomes formed the current karyotype. Evolutionary analysis, transcriptomics and metabolic profiling showed that segment and tandem duplications contributed to scent formation in the woody aromatic species. Moreover, phylogenetic analysis indicated that S. oblata shared a common ancestor with Osmanthus fragrans and Olea europaea approximately 27.61 million years ago (Mya). Biogeographic reconstruction based on a resequenced data set of 26 species suggested that Syringa originated in the northern part of East Asia during the Miocene (approximately 14.73 Mya) and that the five Syringa groups initially formed before the Late Miocene (approximately 9.97 Mya). Furthermore, multidirectional dispersals accompanied by gene introgression among Syringa species from Northern China during the Miocene were detected by biogeographic reconstruction. Taken together, the results showed that complex gene introgression, which occurred during speciation history, greatly contributed to Syringa diversity.

Greenwashing behaviors in construction projects: there is an elephant in the room!

In the process of urbanization, a brisk building boom triggers a series of environmental problems. Construction contractors usually present environmentally fraudulent behaviors, i.e., greenwashing behaviors (GWBs), to legitimize their activities, ultimately hindering the sustainable development of the society. However, the formation mechanism of the contractors' GWBs is still unclear. Through the lens of fraud GONE theory (i.e., greed, opportunity, needs, and exposure), this study applies the multi-group structural equation model (SEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to examine the formation mechanisms of GWBs. The results of SEM show the relationships between four fraud factors and GWBs. Additionally, the projects are grouped into three categories: government investment projects, private-public-partnership (PPP) projects, and private investment projects. The results of multi-group SEM reveal that the effects of four fraud factors differ significantly across projects with different investment characteristics. The results of fsQCA suggest that there are three typical driving mechanisms for GWBs. Furthermore, this study develops a project information transparency framework and a "greenwashing tree" to form a systematic understanding of GWBs. Finally, on these bases, this study provides targeted suggestions and policy recommendations for governing contractors' GWBs.

Functional disability and post-traumatic stress disorder in survivors of mechanical ventilation: a cross-sectional study in Guangzhou, China.

BACKGROUND: Critical illness is associated with cognitive, physical, and psychological impairments; however, evidence of the severity and frequency of impairments in Chinese survivors of mechanical ventilation in an intensive care unit (ICU) remains limited. Our aim was to investigate the incidence and severity of impairments in Chinese survivors of mechanical ventilation in ICU and to explore risk factors influencing specific impairments. METHODS: Patients discharged alive after mechanical ventilation in a large general ICU for ≥2 days were enrolled in this single-center cross-sectional study. Survivors were evaluated using measures of functional disability (Activity of Daily Living Scale), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD, The Impact of Event Scale-Revised) via telephone interview. Multivariable analysis was conducted. RESULTS: Data were obtained from 130 consenting survivors. At follow-up (mean: 19.64 months), among those in part-time or full-time employment prior to admission, only 45.1% had returned to work. Further, 29.2% of survivors had clear disabilities affecting daily living. Deficits in activities of daily living (ADL) were mainly characterized by impairment of instrumental ADL. Predictors of ADL in mechanically ventilated survivors included age, ICU admission diagnosis, and Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score, which accounted for 33.5% of total variance. Furthermore, 17.7% of participants had symptoms consistent with PTSD. ICU length of stay was the only predictor of PTSD, and accounted for 7.5% of total variance. CONCLUSIONS: ICU survivors of mechanical ventilation in China face negative impacts on employment, and commonly have ADL impairment and PTSD. Age, ICU admission diagnosis, and APACHE II score were key factors influencing ADL, while ICU length of stay was the only factor affecting PTSD. These findings suggest that some survivors who have had certain exposures may warrant closer follow-up, and systematic interventions for these high-risk survivors should be developed in China.

Microbial community and antibiotic resistance genes of biofilm on pipes and their interactions in domestic hot water system.

This study aimed to explore the dynamics of microbial communities and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) during biofilm formation on polypropylene random (PPR), polyvinyl chloride and stainless steel pipes in domestic hot water system (DHWS), as well as their interactions. Full-scale classification was used to divide abundant and rare genera with 0.1% and 1% as the thresholds. The biofilm community structure presented a temporal pattern, which was mainly determined by conditionally rare or abundant taxa (CRAT) and conditionally rare taxa (CRT). The dynamics of microbial community during biofilm formation were observed, and the effect of pipe material on conditionally abundant taxa (CAT) and CRAT was greater than CRT and rare taxa (RT). CRAT showed the most complex internal associations and were identified as the core taxa. Notably, CRT and RT with low relative abundance, also played an important role in the network. For potential pathogens, 17 genera were identified in this study, and their total relative abundance was the highest (3.6-28.9%) in PPR samples. Enterococcus of CRAT was the dominant potential pathogen in young biofilms. There were 36 more co-exclusion patterns (140) observed between potential pathogens and nonpathogenic bacteria than co-occurrence (104). A total of 38 ARGs were predicted, and 109 negative and 165 positive correlations were detected between them. Some potential pathogens (Escherichia/Shigella and Burkholderia) and nonpathogenic bacteria (Meiothermus and Sphingopyxis) were identified as the possible hosts of ARGs. This study is helpful for a comprehensive understanding of the biofilm microbial community and ARGs, and provides a reference for the management and biosafety guarantee of newly-built DHWS.

[Long-term outcomes of survivors of mechanical ventilation in intensive care unit (ICU) and their views on ICU rehabilitation clinics].

OBJECTIVE: To describe the long-term outcomes of intensive care unit (ICU) survivors of mechanical ventilation, and investigate the views of survivors on ICU rehabilitation clinics. METHODS: A single-center cross-sectional descriptive study was designed. ICU survivors of mechanical ventilation admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from January to December 2016 were enrolled. Data were collected from August 2017 to March 2018. The general information questionnaire, Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and ICU rehabilitation clinics questionnaire were used to evaluate ICU survivors social-demographic factors, social and economic outcomes, clinical data, quality of life and the views on ICU rehabilitation clinics. RESULTS: A total of 248 ICU survivors of mechanical ventilation were included in the study, 130 (52.4%) of them were followed up successfully. The mean time from ICU discharge to follow-up day was (19.64±3.20) months. The average age of the survivors was (60.09±15.42) years old, and 55.4% of them were over 60 years old. Among 130 ICU survivors, severe pneumonia was the dominant ICU admission diagnosis (23.1%), followed by surgical operations (cardiac surgery 16.9%, other surgical operations 20.8%), lung transplantation (13.1%), and acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD, 12.3%), etc. The first APACHE II score after ICU admission was 16.88±7.37, the mechanical ventilation time was (12.52±12.34) days, and the length of ICU stay was (16.71±15.11) days. In terms of social and economic outcomes, the proportion of having full-time or part-time jobs decreased from 32.3% (42/130) before ICU admission to 25.4% (33/130) by the date of follow-up, while the unemployed rate increased from 6.9% (9/130) to 18.5% (24/130). Only 45.1% (23/51) of the ICU survivors returned to the post before ICU admission. 36.2% (47/130) of the ICU survivors reported that they needed care from others, and 86.9% (113/130) reported that their treatment experiences in ICU had an impact on their lives. In terms of quality of life, physiological function dimension, which was 34.62±33.15, scored the lowest and suffered the most. The physical pain dimension and mental health dimension suffered the least, and the scores were 90.19±16.98 and 75.28±15.15, respectively. Furthermore, physical component summary (PCS) score was 61.12±17.09, and mental component summary (MCS) score was 65.97±21.85. In terms of the views of ICU rehabilitation clinics, 68.5% (89/130) of the subjects believed that the establishment of ICU rehabilitation clinics was very helpful or helpful. CONCLUSIONS: The long-term outcomes of ICU survivors of mechanical ventilation are not optimistic. Their quality of life is lower than that of general people. It is necessary to set up ICU rehabilitation clinics.

Transcriptome sequencing and metabolite analysis for revealing the blue flower formation in waterlily.

BACKGROUND: Waterlily (Nymphaea spp.), a perennial herbaceous aquatic plant, is divided into two ecological groups: hardy waterlily and tropical waterlily. Although the hardy waterlily has no attractive blue flower cultivar, its adaptability is stronger than tropical waterlily because it can survive a cold winter. Thus, breeding hardy waterlily with real blue flowers has become an important target for breeders. Molecular breeding may be a useful way. However, molecular studies on waterlily are limited due to the lack of sequence data. RESULTS: In this study, six cDNA libraries generated from the petals of two different coloring stages of blue tropical waterlily cultivar Nymphaea 'King of Siam' were sequenced using the Illumina HiSeq™ 2500 platform. Each library produced no less than 5.65 Gb clean reads. Subsequently, de novo assembly generated 112,485 unigenes, including 26,206 unigenes annotated to seven public protein databases. Then, 127 unigenes could be identified as putative homologues of color-related genes in other species, including 28 up-regulated and 5 down-regulated unigenes. In petals, 16 flavonoids (4 anthocyanins and 12 flavonols) were detected in different contents during the color development due to the different expression levels of color-related genes, and four flavonols were detected in waterlily for the first time. Furthermore, UA3GTs were selected as the most important candidates involved in the flavonoid metabolic pathway, UA3GTs induced blue petal color formation in Nymphaea 'King of Siam'. CONCLUSIONS: This study will improve our understanding of the molecular mechanism of blue flowers in waterlily and provide the basis for molecular breeding of blue hardy waterlily cultivars.

Physiological Significance of Well-tolerated Inspiratory Pressure to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patient with Hypercapnia During Noninvasive Pressure Support Ventilation.

The inspiratory pressure is often set by tolerance of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patient during noninvasive pressure support ventilation (PSV). However, physiological effects of this setting remain unclear. This study was undertaken to assess the physiological effect of highest tolerated assist level on COPD patient. The baseline inspiratory pressure (PS) was titrated by tolerance in 15 severe COPD patients with hypercapnia during acute exacerbation. In addition to the baseline PS, an additional decrease by 25% (PS- = 75% PS) or increase by 25% (PS+ = 125% PS) of PS was applied to the patients. Each level lasted at least 20 minutes. Respiratory rate (RR), tidal volume (Vt), inspiratory effort (PTPpesin/min), and neuro-ventilatory coupling (VE/RMS%) were measured. Asynchrony Index (AI) was calculated. The Vt and VE/RMS% were significantly increased by PS level (Vt: 561 ± 102 ml, VE/RMS%: 1.06 ± 0.42 L/%, comfort score: 7.5 ± 1.1). The inspiratory muscles were sufficiently unloaded (PTPpesin/min 56.67 ± 32.71 cmH2O.S/min). In comparison with PS, PS+ resulted in a further increase in Vt, VE/RMS% and AI (P < 0.01), with no further reduction in neural drive (RMS) and respiratory muscle activity (P > 0.05). Increasing inspiratory pressure significantly enhances the VE/RMS% and Vt. However, the inspiratory pressure higher than COPD patient's most tolerated level cannot lead to further reduction in respiratory muscle load and RMS, but more asynchrony events. Physiological data can monitor the patient's responses and the ventilator-patient interaction, which may provide objective criterion to ventilator setting.

Selective Extraction of Heavy and Light Lanthanides from Aqueous Solution by Advanced Magnetic Nanosorbents.

Rare earth elements (REEs) make unique and vital contributions to our current world of technology. Separating and recycling REEs is of great importance to diversify the sources of REEs and advance the efficient use of REE resources when the supply is limited. In light of separation nanotechnology, diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid (DTPA) functionalized magnetic nanosorbents have been synthesized and investigated for the highly selective extraction of heavy (Sm-Ho) and light (La-Nd) lanthanides (Ln) from aqueous solutions. The results demonstrated that the separation factor (SF) between heavy-Ln and light-Ln groups reached the maximal value of 11.5 at low pH value of 2.0 in 30 min. For example, the SFs of Gd/La and Dy/La pairs were up to 10 times higher than that reported by other studies. Besides the excellent selectivity, our double-coated magnetic nanoparticles coupled with diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (dMNP-DTPA) nanosorbents are more advantageous in that the Ln(III) sorption was effectively and quickly (in 30 min) achieved in acid solutions with pH values as low as 2.0. Such attributes ensure a stronger adaptability to the harsh environments of REE recycling processes. Displacement phenomena were subsequently observed between the heavy-Ln and light-Ln ions that were coexisting in solution and competing for the same sorption sites, causing the increase in sorption capacity of heavy Ln on the surface of nanosorbents with time. The order of affinity of Ln(III) to DTPA-functionalized magnetic nanosorbents perfectly followed the corresponding stability constants between Ln(III) and nonimmobilized DTPA. Displacement phenomena and lanthanide contraction, as well as the surface nanostructures of DTPA-functionalized nanosorbents, significantly improved the separation factors of heavy-Ln/light-Ln pairs. The Ln(III) interaction with DTPA-functionalized magnetic nanosorbents followed the pseudo-second-order kinetics with a correlation coefficient extremely high and close to unity.

A new nuclear DNA marker from ubiquitin ligase gene region for genetic diversity detection of walnut germplasm resources.

Development of more sensitive nuclear DNA markers for identification of species, particularly closely allied taxa has been a challenging task that has attracted interest from scientists in fields of biotechnological development and genetic diversity detection. In this study, the sequence of the ubiquitin ligase gene (UBE3) region of nuclear DNA was tested for applicability and efficacy in revealing genetic diversity of walnut resources, with an emphasis on inter- and intra-specific levels. Analysis on genetic relationship among the taxa was conducted with the neighbor-joining (NJ) method. The number of variable bases in the UBE3 region was 20 sites. All nine taxa (species/variety/cultivars) were distinguished using the UBE3 sequence. In addition, each taxon was characterized molecularly with a unique nucleotide molecular formula using ten variable base sites derived from the nuclear DNA UBE3 gene sequence. This study presents a good complementary methodology for developing new DNA markers for identification of genus Juglans.

Biogenesis of C-glycosyl flavones and profiling of flavonoid glycosides in lotus (Nelumbo nucifera).

Flavonoids in nine tissues of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertner were identified and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) and HPLC-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MSn). Thirty-eight flavonoids were identified; eleven C-glycosides and five O-glycosides were discovered for the first time in N. nucifera. Most importantly, the C-glycosyl apigenin or luteolin detected in lotus plumules proved valuable for deep elucidation of flavonoid composition in lotus tissues and for further utilization as functional tea and medicine materials. Lotus leaves possessed the significantly highest amount of flavonoids (2.06E3±0.08 mg 100 g(-1) FW) and separating and purifying the bioactive compound, quercetin 3-O-glucuronide, from leaves showed great potential. In contrast, flavonoids in flower stalks, seed coats and kernels were extremely low. Simultaneously, the optimal picking time was confirmed by comparing the compound contents in five developmental phases. Finally, we proposed the putative flavonoid biosynthesis pathway in N. nucifera.

Effects of [C2mim][OAc] (1-ethyl-3-methyl-imidazolium acetate) on the growth of wheat seedlings under Cd²âº stress.

The joint effect on the growth of wheat seedlings under Cd(2+) stress (0, 0.5 mmol L(-1)) and [C2mim][OAc] with a series of concentrations (0, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 mg L(-1)) was investigated. Physiological characteristics including superoxide dismutases, peroxidases, catalase and malondialdehyde were studied in hydroponic and soil cultures. Results indicated that, compared to samples treated under Cd(2+) stress alone, joint treatment groups showed Cd(2+) stress was mitigated by ionic liquid at appropriate concentrations (≤ 400 mg L(-1) in hydroponic treatments and ≤ 300 mg L(-1) in soil culture treatments). Use of inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy showed less Cd(2+) in organelles in the joint treatment group. This phenomenon could be due to [C2mim][OAc] forming metal complexes with Cd(2+), thus reducing the amount of free Cd(2+) available for absorption by the seedlings.

Conjugates of magnetic nanoparticle-actinide specific chelator for radioactive waste separation.

A novel nanotechnology for the separation of radioactive waste that uses magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) conjugated with actinide specific chelators (MNP-Che) is reviewed with a focus on design and process development. The MNP-Che separation process is an effective way of separating heat generating minor actinides (Np, Am, Cm) from spent nuclear fuel solution to reduce the radiological hazard. It utilizes coated MNPs to selectively adsorb the contaminants onto their surfaces, after which the loaded particles are collected using a magnetic field. The MNP-Che conjugates can be recycled by stripping contaminates into a separate, smaller volume of solution, and then become the final waste form for disposal after reusing number of times. Due to the highly selective chelators, this remediation method could be both simple and versatile while allowing the valuable actinides to be recovered and recycled. Key issues standing in the way of large-scale application are stability of the conjugates and their dispersion in solution to maintain their unique properties, especially large surface area, of MNPs. With substantial research progress made on MNPs and their surface functionalization, as well as development of environmentally benign chelators, this method could become very flexible and cost-effective for recycling used fuel. Finally, the development of this nanotechnology is summarized and its future direction is discussed.

Relationship between the composition of flavonoids and flower colors variation in tropical water lily (Nymphaea) cultivars.

Water lily, the member of the Nymphaeaceae family, is the symbol of Buddhism and Brahmanism in India. Despite its limited researches on flower color variations and formation mechanism, water lily has background of blue flowers and displays an exceptionally wide diversity of flower colors from purple, red, blue to yellow, in nature. In this study, 34 flavonoids were identified among 35 tropical cultivars by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with photodiode array detection (DAD) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Among them, four anthocyanins: delphinidin 3-O-rhamnosyl-5-O-galactoside (Dp3Rh5Ga), delphinidin 3-O-(2"-O-galloyl-6"-O-oxalyl-rhamnoside) (Dp3galloyl-oxalylRh), delphinidin 3-O-(6"-O-acetyl-ß-glucopyranoside) (Dp3acetylG) and cyanidin 3- O-(2"-O-galloyl-galactopyranoside)-5-O-rhamnoside (Cy3galloylGa5Rh), one chalcone: chalcononaringenin 2'-O-galactoside (Chal2'Ga) and twelve flavonols: myricetin 7-O-rhamnosyl-(1 → 2)-rhamnoside (My7RhRh), quercetin 7-O-galactosyl-(1 → 2)-rhamnoside (Qu7GaRh), quercetin 7-O-galactoside (Qu7Ga), kaempferol 7-O-galactosyl-(1 → 2)-rhamnoside (Km7GaRh), myricetin 3-O-galactoside (My3Ga), kaempferol 7-O-galloylgalactosyl-(1 → 2)-rhamnoside (Km7galloylGaRh), myricetin 3-O-galloylrhamnoside (My3galloylRh), kaempferol 3-O-galactoside (Km3Ga), isorhamnetin 7-O-galactoside (Is7Ga), isorhamnetin 7-O-xyloside (Is7Xy), kaempferol 3-O-(3"-acetylrhamnoside) (Km3-3"acetylRh) and quercetin 3-O-acetylgalactoside (Qu3acetylGa) were identified in the petals of tropic water lily for the first time. Meanwhile a multivariate analysis was used to explore the relationship between pigments and flower color. By comparing, the cultivars which were detected delphinidin 3-galactoside (Dp3Ga) presented amaranth, and detected delphinidin 3'-galactoside (Dp3'Ga) presented blue. However, the derivatives of delphinidin and cyanidin were more complicated in red group. No anthocyanins were detected within white and yellow group. At the same time a possible flavonoid biosynthesis pathway of tropical water lily was presumed putatively. These studies will help to elucidate the evolution mechanism on the formation of flower colors and provide theoretical basis for outcross breeding and developing health care products from this plant.

Ecophysiological evaluation of the potential invasiveness of Rhus typhina in its non-native habitats.

Rhus typhina L. (staghorn sumac) is a clonal woody species that is considered potentially invasive in its non-native habitats. It is slow growing as seedlings, but grows fast once established. Its growth in the early stages is limited by many abiotic factors, including light intensity. To evaluate its potential of becoming invasive in areas it has been introduced into, we conducted a field experiment to investigate the effects of light intensity on the physiology and growth of R. typhina. Two-month-old R. typhina seedlings were examined under five light levels, that is, 100% full sunlight (unlimited light), moderate stress (50% or 25% of full sunlight) and severe stress (10% or 5% of full sunlight), for 60 days in Hunshandak Sandland, China. Net photosynthetic rate (PN) was reduced significantly under severe light stress, but PN of the moderately stressed seedlings was unaffected. Light stress also led to a reduction in saturated light intensity of the moderately stressed seedlings by 20% and of the severely stressed seedlings by 40%, although the light saturation points were as high as 800 and 600 micromol m(-2) s(-1) for the moderately and severely stressed seedlings, respectively. Under severe light stress, the maximum quantum yield of Photosystem II (Fv/Fm) decreased significantly, but the minimal fluorescence yield (F0) increased compared to that of the control plants. The number of newly produced leaves and the stem height, however, decreased as the light intensity became lower. Root length and leaf area decreased, whereas specific leaf area significantly increased as light became increasingly lower. Biomass production was significantly reduced by light stress, but the allocation pattern was unaffected. Our results demonstrated that R. typhina seedlings can survive low light and grow well in other light conditions. The physiology and growth of R. typhina will likely enable it to acclimate to varying light conditions in Hunshandak Sandland, where R. typhina has been widely cultivated for sand stabilization and other purposes. Because of its ability to tolerate low light and to compete aggressively for light resource once established, that is, becoming invasive, we urge caution when it comes to introducing R. typhina into its non-native habitats, despite its many ecological benefits.

Simultaneous analysis of anthocyanins and flavonols in petals of lotus (Nelumbo) cultivars by high-performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detection/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

A fast and reliable HPLC method for the simultaneous separation of anthocyanins and flavonols in lotus petals was developed based on the study of four candidate solvent systems. Fifteen flavonoids were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection/mass spectrometry. Among them, two anthocyanins and nine flavonols were discovered in lotus petals for the first time. This work is valuable for both the hybrid breeding on lotus oriented to flower color and the utilization of lotus petals as functional food materials.