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Nitrogen deposition experiment mimicked with NH4NO3 overestimates the effect on soil microbial community composition and functional potential in the Eurasian steppe
No full textBackground The nitrogenous compound deposited from the atmosphere to the soil is complex, but most field experiments mimic nitrogen deposition with the acid NH4NO3 alone. Thus, whether the acid and non-acid nitrogenous compounds have similar effects on biodiversity and ecosystem functions remains understudied. We mimicked nitrogen deposition with acidic NH4NO3 and (NH4)(2)SO4, and non-acidic urea, slow-released urea and NH4HCO3 in a temperate steppe, and quantified soil microbial taxonomic and functional gene composition with amplicon sequencing and shotgun metagenomics, respectively. Results While NH4NO3 and (NH4)(2)SO4 significantly altered the soil microbial taxonomic and functional composition as well as their carbon decomposition potential, the other three compounds had smaller effects. Conclusion Our results suggested that previous nitrogen deposition experiments mimicked with NH4NO3 or (NH4)(2)SO4 alone may have overestimated the effect on biodiversity and ecosystem functions in the Eurasian steppe and similar ecosystems affected by mainly nonacidic nitrogen deposition
Characterization of the Berry Quality Traits and Metabolites of 'Beimei' Interspecific Hybrid Wine Grapes during Berry Development and Winemaking
No full textThe development of grape varieties with cold resistance can be an advantage for the wine industry. 'Beimei', an interspecific hybrid wine grape variety with cold resistance and pleasant rose aroma, is now extensively cultivated in China. In the present study, the berry quality traits and metabolites of 'Beimei' and other Bei varieties were characterized. The sugar (234 g/L-391 g/L) and acid (6.2-8.3 g/L) contents of 'Beimei' and four additional Bei varieties, i.e., 'Beihong', 'Beixi', 'Beixin', and 'Xinbeichun' berries were smilar to that of traditional Vitis vinifera varieties. 'Beimei' grapes has the highest volatile compounds composition, especially the content of rose aroma compounds (2-phenyl-ethyl alcohol and neryl alcohol), which was significantly higher than that of the other Bei wine grape varieties. After fermentation, 'Beimei' wines showed improved quality, with a high resveratrol content (18 mg/L) compared to traditional Eurasian wines. In addition, the high content of main rose aroma compounds (acetic acid 2-phenylethyl acetate, phenylethyl alcohol, neryl alcohol and beta-damascenone) contribute to a pleasant rose aroma in 'Beimei' wines. In summary, these results indicate that 'Beimei' grapes could be used as a winemaking grape variety considering global climate changes
Melatonin Function and Crosstalk with Other Phytohormones under Normal and Stressful Conditions
No full textMelatonin was discovered in plants in the late nineties, but its role, signaling, and crosstalk with other phytohormones remain unknown. Research on melatonin in plants has risen dramatically in recent years and the role of this putative plant hormone under biotic and abiotic stress conditions has been reported. In the present review, we discuss the main functions of melatonin in the growth and development of plants, its role under abiotic stresses, such as water stress (waterlogging and drought), extreme temperature (low and high), salinity, heavy metal, and light-induced stress. Similarly, we also discuss the role of melatonin under biotic stresses (antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal effects). Moreover, the present review meticulously discusses the crosstalk of melatonin with other phytohormones such as auxins, gibberellic acids, cytokinins, ethylene, and salicylic acid under normal and stressful conditions and reports melatonin receptors and signaling in plants. All these aspects of melatonin suggest that phytomelatonin is a key player in crop improvement and biotic and abiotic stress regulation
Shift in controlling factors of carbon stocks across biomes on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau
No full textThe Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (TP) accumulated a large amount of organic carbon, while its size and response to environmental factors for the whole area remain uncertain. Here, we synthesized a dataset to date with the largest data volume and broadest geographic coverage over the TP, composing of 7196 observations from multiple field campaigns since the 1980s, and provided a comprehensive assessment of the size and spatial distribution of carbon pools for both plant and soils on the TP using machine learning algorithms. The estimated soil organic carbon (SOC) storage to 1 m depth was 32.0(16.69)(47.9) Pg (11.72(7.2)(17.53) kg m(-2) on average), accounting for approximately 37.2(22.9)(55.6)% of China's SOC stock on its <30% land area. There was 15.52(9.91)(23.52) Pg C stored in grassland soils (1 m), which played as the largest C pool on the TP, followed by shrubland (7.52(4.8)(11.6) Pg) and forest (3.72(2.5)(5.36) Pg). The estimated plant C pool was 2.4(0.95)(5.16) Pg (1.03(0.2)(2.7) Pg in aboveground biomass (AGB) and 1.37(0.75)(2.45) Pg in belowground biomass). Soil and biomass C density presented a similar spatial pattern, which generally decreased from the east and southeast parts to the central and western parts. We found both vegetation and soil C (1 m depth) were primarily regulated by climatic variables and C input across the entire TP. However, main driving factors of the C stocks varied among vegetation types and depth intervals. Though AGB played as an important role in SOC variation for both topsoil (0-30 cm) and subsoil (30-100 cm), the strength of the correlation weakened with depth and was gradually attenuated from grassland to shrubland, and forest. The outcomes of this study provided an updated geospatial estimate of SOC stocks for the entire TP and their relationships with environmental factors, which are essential to carbon model benchmarking and better understanding the feedbacks of C stocks to global change
Divergent response and adaptation of specific leaf area to environmental change at different spatio-temporal scales jointly improve plant survival
No full textSpecific leaf area (SLA) is one of the most important plant functional traits. It integrates multiple functions and reflects strategies of plants to obtain resources. How plants employ different strategies (e.g., through SLA) to respond to dynamic environmental conditions remains poorly understood. This study aimed to explore the spatial variation in SLA and its divergent adaptation through the lens of biogeographic patterns, evolutionary history, and short-term responses. SLA data for 5424 plant species from 76 natural communities in China were systematically measured and integrated with meta-analysis of field experiments (i.e., global warming, drought, and nitrogen addition). The mean value of SLA across all species was 21.8 m(2) kg(-1), ranging from 0.9 to 110.2 m(2) kg(-1). SLA differed among different ecosystems, temperature zones, vegetation types, and functional groups. Phylogeny had a weak effect on SLA, but plant species evolved toward higher SLA. Furthermore, SLA responded nonlinearly to environmental change. Unexpectedly, radiation was one of the main factors determining the spatial variation in SLA on a large scale. Conversely, short-term manipulative experiments showed that SLA increased with increased resource availability and tended to stabilize with treatment duration. However, different species exhibited varying response patterns. Overall, variation in long-term adaptation of SLA to environmental gradients and its short-term response to resource pulses jointly improve plant adaptability to a changing environment. Overall SLA-environment relationships should be emphasized as a multidimensional strategy for elucidating environmental change in future research
Heat production and volatile biosynthesis are linked via alternative respiration in Magnolia denudata during floral thermogenesis
No full textFloral thermogenesis is coupled with odor emission in known thermogenic plants. It is widely accepted that elevation in floral temperature can help release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). However, no information is available about whether floral thermogenesis is associated with VOC biosynthesis. Here, we used RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq) to draw a gene expression atlas of floral thermogenesis in Magnolia denudata and captured an upregulation of Alternative Oxidase (AOX) during floral thermogenesis. Western blot analyses also suggested upregulation of AOX during floral thermogenesis. Moreover, oxygen consumption analyses revealed increased activity of the AOX respiration pathway during floral thermogenesis. Using HPLC analyses, we further found that increased AOX respiration substantially promoted production of citric acid by 1.35 folds, which provided fundamental metabolite skeletons for biosynthesis of VOCs. RNA-Seq also showed upregulation of genes regulating lignin catabolism, which was in agreement with in situ Raman chemical imaging of lignin. Taken together, our results suggest the central role of AOX by coupling heat production and VOC biosynthesis in floral thermogenesis of M. denudata
Transcriptomic Characterization of Miscanthus sacchariflorus x M. lutarioriparius and Its Implications for Energy Crop Development in the Semiarid Mine Area
No full textMiscanthus interspecific hybrids have been proved to have better adaptability in marginal lands than their parents. Miscanthus sacchariflorus and Miscanthus lutarioriparius were used as the parents to develop hybrids. We performed the transcriptome for 110 F1 hybrids of Miscanthus sacchariflorus x Miscanthus lutarioriparius and their parents that had been established on the Loess Plateau mine area, to estimate the population's genetic expression variation, and illuminate the adaptive mechanism of the F1 population. The result speculated that the F1 population has mainly inherited the stress response metabolic pathway of its female parent (M. sacchariflorus), which may be responsible for its higher environmental adaptability and biomass yield compared with male parents. Based on PopART, we assembled a leaf reference transcriptome for M. sacchariflorus (LRTMS) and obtained 8116 high-quality transcripts. When we analyze the differential expression of genes between F1 population and parent, 39 and 56 differentially expressed genes were screened out in the female parent and male parent, respectively. The enrichment analysis showed that pathways of carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites and circadian rhythm-plant played a key role in resisting the harsh environment. The carbohydrate metabolism and lipid metabolism were also significantly enriched, and the synthesis of these substances facilitated the yield. The results provided an insight into breeding Miscanthus hybrids more suited to the harsh environment of the Loess Plateau
Tree species and genetic diversity increase productivity via functional diversity and trophic feedbacks
No full textAddressing global biodiversity loss requires an expanded focus on multiple dimensions of biodiversity. While most studies have focused on the consequences of plant interspecific diversity, our mechanistic understanding of how genetic diversity within plant species affects plant productivity remains limited. Here, we use a tree species x genetic diversity experiment to disentangle the effects of species diversity and genetic diversity on tree productivity, and how they are related to tree functional diversity and trophic feedbacks. We found that tree species diversity increased tree productivity via increased tree functional diversity, reduced soil fungal diversity, and marginally reduced herbivory. The effects of tree genetic diversity on productivity via functional diversity and soil fungal diversity were negative in monocultures but positive in the mixture of the four tree species tested. Given the complexity of interactions between species and genetic diversity, tree functional diversity and trophic feedbacks on productivity, we suggest that both tree species and genetic diversity should be considered in afforestation
Effects of nitrogen addition and precipitation alteration on soil respiration and its components in a saline-alkaline grassland
No full textThe responses of soil total respiration (R-s) and its components (soil autotrophic respiration (R-a) and heterotrophic respiration (R-h)) to nitrogen (N) deposition have been widely evaluated in non-saline-alkaline grasslands. However, their responses to N addition under drought and wet conditions, especially in saline-alkaline grasslands, remain unclear. A two-factorial experiment involving N addition and precipitation changes (decreased or increased 50% precipitation relative to ambient) was conducted in a saline-alkaline grassland of Northern China, while soil respiration was measured in different treatment plots during two growing seasons (2018, 2019). Results showed that the addition of N or changes in precipitation alone had no significant effect on R-s, R-a or R-h in both years because root productivity and soil microbial biomass were not affected. However, N addition with increased precipitation synergistically augmented seasonal mean R-s and R-a by 25.7% and 46.8% in 2018, and by 42.4% and 89.3% in 2019, respectively, owing to the increase in plant productivity. The variation in R-a primarily contributed to variation in R-s, and the effect size of N addition on R-s and R-a were increased with precipitation. In addition, a structural equation model showed that the response of soil respiration to N addition and precipitation changes was regulated by soil salinization, in which the R-a was regulated by soil based cations while R-h was controlled by soil pH values. Our study highlights that N addition with increased precipitation preferentially affects plants rather than microorganisms, and that R-h was not sensitive to N addition and precipitation changes in saline-alkaline grassland
Comparison of Stomatal Structure and Distribution between Ovules and Leaves in Ginkgo biloba
No full textStomata are plant epidermal structures that play essential roles in photosynthesis, respiration, and transpiration. Although stomata on plant leaves have been extensively studied, their structure and distribution on other organs remain poorly understood. The living fossil , Ginkgo biloba, has naked ovules that are thought to be primitive reproductive structures in ancient seed plants. Therefore, we hypothesized that there are some distinct stoma features in G. biloba ovules that have not been reported. In this study, we investigated the morphological development of stomata on ovules and leaves of Ginkgo biloba using scanning electron microscopy, then examined the anatomical characteristics of the general stalk and petiole using semi-thin sectioning. We found that stomata were distributed on the epidermis of the whole ovule, except near the micropyle; these stomata persisted until harvest, indicating that ovules perform gross photosynthesis to an extent similar to the photosynthesis observed in leaves, which is beneficial to ovule development. Ovule and leaf stomata share similar orientation, composition, and development; however, their distribution and subsidiary cell morphology significantly differ. The morphology of the general stalk was similar to the morphology of the petiole, but xylem cell development was minimal, and no sclerenchyma cells were present beneath the epidermis; these findings suggested that the general stalk is biomechanically weaker than the petiole. Overall, these results suggest that despite their differences, G. biloba ovules and leaves share many morphological and anatomical similarities in terms of stomatal architecture and stalk anatomy. These findings will help to elucidate the leaf origins of flowers in ancient plants