Lushan Botanical Garden

Understanding spatial and seasonal variations in leaf stoichiometry is essential for understanding plant nutrient-use strategies and their implications for ecosystem biogeochemical cycling. Although broad-scale stoichiometric patterns have been well documented for terrestrial plants, comparable evidence for vascular epiphytes remains limited. Here, we examined spatial and seasonal variation in leaf stoichiometry of vascular epiphytes by integrating field data from subtropical and tropical forests in southwestern China with a global literature synthesis. At the global scale, leaf nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations (LNC and LPC) of vascular epiphytes were significantly related to climate variables, whereas no clear latitudinal pattern was detected for leaf N:P ratios. At the regional scale, vascular epiphytes in the subtropical montane moist forest exhibited higher LNC and LPC and lower C:N and C:P ratios than those in the tropical seasonal rainforest. At the local scale, LPC of epiphytes was positively correlated with host LPC, whereas LNC showed a weak but statistically significant association with N availability in canopy soils. Seasonally, evergreen epiphytes exhibited higher leaf nutrient concentrations during the rainy season, and deciduous species showed significantly higher stem N, P, and K concentrations during the dry season, indicating contrasting seasonal nutrient-use strategies. Our results demonstrate that leaf stoichiometry of vascular epiphytes is jointly shaped by climate, canopy-level nutrient dynamics, and seasonal regulation, and differs fundamentally from patterns commonly observed in terrestrial plants. These findings highlight the importance of considering canopy-specific processes and fine-scale species turnover when assessing large-scale stoichiometric patterns and forest nutrient cycling.

Forest type strongly influences soil microbial community composition and associated carbon cycling, yet its influence on microbial functional traits remains poorly understood. In this study, metagenomics sequencing was used to investigate soil microbial communities and carbon metabolism genes across three forest types: deciduous broadleaf (DBF), mixed coniferous–broadleaf (CBMF), and coniferous forest (CF) at two soil depths (0–20 cm and 20–40 cm) on Lushan Mountain in subtropical China. The results showed that CF exhibited higher bacterial diversity and a distinct microbial composition, with an increase in Actinomycetota and Bacteroidota and a decrease in Acidobacteriota and Pseudomonadota. The Calvin cycle was the dominant carbon fixation pathway in all forests, while the relative abundance of secondary pathways (i.e., the 3-hydroxypropionate bi-cycle and reductive citrate cycle) varied significantly with forest type. Key carbon fixation genes (sucD, pckA) were more abundant in CF and CBMF, with higher levels of rpiA/B and ackA in DBF. Functional profiling further indicated that CF soils, especially in the surface layer, were enriched in glycoside hydrolases (GHs) and carbohydrate esterases (CEs), while CBMF showed a greater potential for starch and lignin degradation. Multivariate statistical analyses identified soil available phosphorus (AP) and pH as primary factors shaping microbial community variation, with AP emerging as being the dominant regulator of carbon-related functional gene abundance. Overall, the prevalence of these distinct genetic potentials across forest types underscores how vegetation composition may shape microbial functional traits, thereby influencing the stability and dynamics of the soil carbon pool in forest ecosystem.

Abstract Encephalartos , an African endemic genus within the Zamiaceae, comprises 65 extant species whose phylogenetic relationships have remained unresolved due to limited genetic differentiation observed in previous studies. This research reconstructs the evolutionary history of Encephalartos utilizing 3545 single‐copy nuclear genes derived from transcriptomes of 64 species. The study estimates divergence times and reconstructs ancestral states for 12 key morphological traits. Phylogenetic analyses definitively resolve eight major clades, supported by both molecular and morphological evidence. Although these clades partially align with previous morphology and geography based classifications, the genomic data provide novel insights, necessitating a revised infrageneric system. Biogeographic reconstructions indicate that Encephalartos originated in southern Africa during the Oligocene (~26.3 Ma), subsequently dispersing into eastern and northern Africa through the Zimbabwe–Mozambique corridor during the Miocene, followed by expansion into Central Africa. Speciation rates decreased markedly during the Pliocene and Pleistocene, potentially due to intensified climatic drying and cooling. Morphological character mapping identified ancestral traits, including aerial stems, green leaves, and red sarcotesta. Specific transitions such as subterranean stems in clade IV and bluish‐green leaves in clades II and V, further substantiate clade differentiation. These findings resolve long‐standing taxonomic uncertainties and emphasize the Oligocene‐Miocene as a crucial period for Encephalartos diversification, influenced by Cenozoic climate change. This research establishes a robust framework for future systematic and conservation studies while demonstrating the effectiveness of transcriptome data in resolving phylogenies of slowly evolving lineages.

Shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes), the second-largest edible fungus globally, boasts high nutritional value and medicinal benefits. The increasing planting scale has led to a shortage of traditional wood chips. Using agricultural waste as a substitute substrate can solve the resource shortage and environmental problems in China’s mushroom production industry. An experimental study on Shiitake mushroom strain 868 explored the effects of various cultivation substrates through stages like spawn production, synthetic log preparation, and incubation to fructification, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for mushroom production. Optimal solid and liquid media for biomass production were identified, with potato sucrose agar (PSA) and potato sucrose broth (PSB) being most conducive. Temperature and pH effects revealed the highest radial mycelial growth at 24 °C and pH 5.0 and 7.0. Wormwood (A. argyi) and stevia (S. rebaudiana) were tested as substrates. The addition of wormwood at 60% concentration yielded the highest fruiting body yield and nutritional content, except for carbohydrate and protein content. While stevia substrate composition with a 45% concentration produced the highest yield and nutritional content, with the exception of carbohydrate and protein content. A. argyi and S. rebaudiana substrates effectively enhance the yield and nutritional quality of L. edodes, offering sustainable alternatives to traditional sawdust. This study demonstrates that media type, environmental conditions, and substrate formulation significantly affect the growth, yield, and nutritional composition of Lentinula edodes strain 868. Optimal results were achieved with PSA or MEA media, 24 °C, pH 5.0–6.0, and substrates containing moderate levels of wormwood or stevia.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12870-025-07340-w.

In the realm of Aquilaria classification and grading, a persistent market uncertainty persists, questioning whether the basis should be geographical distribution or biological origin. In this study, the effectiveness of matK molecular markers, particularly through eight stable polymorphic loci (e.g., +249C for Chinese origin, +435G for Aquilaria sinensis), emerges as a decisive tool for differentiating Aquilaria species. The integration of matK and trnL-trnF not only validates this efficacy but also streamlines the systematic categorization of 34 agarwood products into four biogeographic pedigrees: Chinese (C1: A. sinensis; C2: A. malaccensis), Indonesian (A. cumingiana), and Indochinese (A.rugosa). Molecular clock analyses trace the genus's divergence to 6.78 million years ago (Ma) (A. hirta), with recent speciation of commercially pivotal species (A. sinensis: 0.9 Ma; A. malaccensis: 1.0 Ma). Notably, the redefined placement of Gyrinops walla (5.75 Ma) within Aquilaria challenges prior taxonomic assumptions, suggesting revised genus boundaries. The Median-Joining network further visualized these haplotypes, showing key evolutionary transitions, particularly from A.crassna to A. rugosa and A.malaccensis. These findings provide robust tools for species differentiation, insights into evolutionary history, and practical guidance for conservation and trade applications within the field of botany.

Ralstonia solanacearum, the causal agent of bacterial wilt, is recognized as one of the most destructive vascular pathogens. Plant defense responses are gradually developed through long-term interactions with R. solanacearum. The plant cell wall integrity (CWI) system has evolved to initiate defense responses via a diverse array of plasma membrane-resident sensors. These defense responses result primarily from physical and chemical actions that counteract infection with R. solanacearum. The plant cell wall serves as a defensive barrier against the pathogen, including cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin, lignin, and suberin. Various modifications to the cell wall and multiple changes in its composition are employed by plants resistant to R. solanacearum. Physical confinement vertically or horizontally induced in xylem tissues is the most effective method of defense against R. solanacearum. The timely formation of tyloses and gels within the vessel lumen contributes to the suppression of R. solanacearum. In addition, the deposition of callose at the infected sites reinforces the cell wall, thereby preventing the further spread of R. solanacearum. Morphological modifications, such as the thickening of the pit membranes and the increased number of larger xylem vessels, play crucial roles in conferring resistance to R. solanacearum. Secondary metabolites act as phytoalexins used by plants against R. solanacearum. In this review, we discuss the strategies deployed by plants resistant to R. solanacearum. In particular, we outline the physical and chemical restrictions, as well as the tissue constraints, against the vascular pathogen.