Characterization and phylogenetic analysis of the complete chloroplast genome of Saussurea sagittifolia (Asteraceae, Cardueae).

The species of Saussurea sagittifolia Y. S. Chen & S. R. Yi belongs to the family Asteraceae (Cardueae). The complete chloroplast genome of S. sagittifolia was assembled and annotated for the first time in this study. The complete chloroplast genome of S. sagittifolia was 152,535 bp, including a large single-copy (LSC) region of 83,511 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,632 bp, and a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) of 25,196 bp. The overall GC content of the chloroplast genome was 37.7%. The chloroplast genome encoded 131 genes, including 87 protein-coding genes, 36 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis based on complete chloroplast sequences revealed that it related closely to Saussurea medusa.

Evolution of the CBL and CIPK gene families in Medicago: genome-wide characterization, pervasive duplication, and expression pattern under salt and drought stress.

BACKGROUND: Calcineurin B-like proteins (CBLs) are ubiquitous Ca2+ sensors that mediate plant responses to various stress and developmental processes by interacting with CBL-interacting protein kinases (CIPKs). CBLs and CIPKs play essential roles in acclimatization of crop plants. However, evolution of these two gene families in the genus Medicago is poorly understood. RESULTS: A total of 68 CBL and 135 CIPK genes have been identified in five genomes from Medicago. Among these genomes, the gene number of CBLs and CIPKs shows no significant difference at the haploid genome level. Phylogenetic and comprehensive characteristic analyses reveal that CBLs and CIPKs are classified into four clades respectively, which is validated by distribution of conserved motifs. The synteny analysis indicates that the whole genome duplication events (WGDs) have contributed to the expansion of both families. Expression analysis demonstrates that two MsCBLs and three MsCIPKs are specifically expressed in roots, mature leaves, developing flowers and nitrogen fixing nodules of Medicago sativa spp. sativa, the widely grown tetraploid species. In particular, the expression of these five genes was highly up-regulated in roots when exposed to salt and drought stress, indicating crucial roles in stress responses. CONCLUSIONS: Our study leads to a comprehensive understanding of evolution of CBL and CIPK gene families in Medicago, but also provides a rich resource to further address the functions of CBL-CIPK complexes in cultivated species and their closely related wild relatives.

Elsholtziazhongyangii (Lamiaceae), a new species from Sichuan, China.

Elsholtziazhongyangii (Lamiaceae), a new species from Sichuan Province, China, is described and illustrated. The new species is morphologically similar to E.feddeif.feddei, but it can be easily distinguished from E.feddeif.feddei by smaller corolla (3.2-3.5 mm vs. 4.5-5.3 mm), bract indumentum (glabrous, except margin ciliate vs. villous, especially on veins abaxially, glabrous adaxially) and bract stalked (ca. 1.2 mm vs. sessile). Phylogenetic analyses, based on two nuclear ribosomal (ETS, ITS) and five plastid (rbcL, matK, trnL-F, ycf1, ycf1-rps15) regions, confirmed that the new species formed a monophyletic clade with robust support. The new species is currently known from western Sichuan.

Above- and Belowground Plant Functional Composition Show Similar Changes During Temperate Forest Swamp Succession.

Plant functional composition, defined by both community-weighted mean (CWM) traits and functional diversity, can provide insights into plant ecological strategies and community assembly. However, our understanding of plant functional composition during succession is largely based on aboveground traits. Here we investigated community-level traits and functional diversity for six pairs of analogous leaf and fine root traits of understory plants in a temperate forest swamp during succession with a decrease in soil pH and nutrient availability. CWMs of traits related to resource acquisition (including specific leaf area, specific root length, leaf N, leaf P, root N, and root P) decreased with succession, whereas those related to resource conservation (leaf dry matter content, root dry matter content, leaf tissue density, leaf C, and root C) increased along the forest swamp successional gradient. Multi-trait functional dispersion (FDis) of both leaf and fine root traits tended to decrease along the successional gradient, but functional richness and evenness were highest at the middle successional stage. Moreover, FDis of individual plant traits except N showed the same pattern as multi-trait FDis. Soil pH and nutrient availability were the main drivers of successional changes in both CWM traits and FDis. The changes of community-level traits along succession indicated a shift from acquisitive to conservative strategy of understory plants during forest swamp succession. Similar trends in leaf and fine root functional diversity along succession may indicate above- and belowground functional diversity are coordinated during the processes of plant community assembly. These findings of linkages between above- and belowground plant functional composition have important implications for plant community dynamics and assembly rules.

The complete chloroplast genome of Pertya phylicoides (Asteraceae, Pertyeae): a shurby endemic species from China.

This study was the first report about complete chloroplast genome of Pertya phylicoides (Asteraceae: Pertyeae), a critically shurby plant. The complete chloroplast genome of Pertya phylicoides was 153,379 bp in length and a typical circular structure, which comprises a pair of inverted repeat (IR) region of 25,191 bp divided by a large single-copy (LSC) region of 84,535 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,462 bp. The general GC content was 37.6% in the whole sequence, whereas corresponding values of 35.6%, 31.2%, and 43.1% in the LSC, SSC, and IR regions, respectively. The whole genome contained 113 unique genes, including 79 protein-coding genes, 4 ribosomal RNA genes, and 30 tRNA genes. The phylogenetic hypotheses obtained based on the analyses of 21 cp genomes indicates Pertya phylicoides was supported as a sister group to the tribe Carduoideae.

The complete chloroplast genome of Aster hypoleucus (Asteraceae: Astereae): an endemic species from China.

This study was the first report about complete chloroplast genome of Aster hypoleucus (Asteraceae, Astereae), an endemic species in Xizang (China). The circular whole cp genome of A. hypoleucus was 152,300 bp in length, contained a large single-copy (LSC) region of 84,031 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,269 bp. These two regions were separated by a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRa and IRb), each of them 25,000 bp in length. A total of 134 functional genes were encoded, consisted of 89 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. The overall GC content of the chloroplast genome sequence was 37.3%, and the GC contents of the LSC, SSC, and IR regions were 35.2%, 31.2%, and 43.0%, respectively.

Complete chloroplast genome sequence of Petrocodon jingxiensis (Gesneriaceae).

The complete chloroplast genome of Petrocodon jingxiensis (Yan Liu, H.S. Gao, and W.B. Xu) A. Weber and Mich. Möller was determined in this study. The cp genome was 153,056 bp in length including two inverted repeats (IRs) of 25,405 bp, which were separated by LSC and SSC of 84,154 bp and 18,092 bp, respectively. The GC content was 41.9%. The genome encoded 112 functional genes, including 79 protein-coding genes, 29 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes. This plastid genome is the first report for the Petrocodon in Gesneriaceae which will be useful data for developing markers for further studies on resolving the relationship within the genus.

The complete chloroplast genome of Plantago fengdouensis (Plantaginaceae): an endemic and Endangered species from China.

This study was the first report about the complete chloroplast genome of Plantago fengdouensis (Plantaginaceae). The circular whole cp genome of P. fengdouensis was in a total length 164,976 bp with the typical quadripartite structure of angiosperms, containing two inverted repeats (IRs) of 38,644 bp separated by a large single-copy (LSC) region and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 82,972 and 4716 bp, respectively. The plastid genome of P. fengdouensis contains 113 genes, including 79 protein-coding genes, 4 ribosomal RNA genes, and 30 transfer RNA genes. The overall GC content of P. fengdouensis plastid genome is 38.0% and the corresponding values in LSC, SSC, and IR regions are 36.6, 30.2, and39.9%, respectively.