Search Results (1,889)

Background/Objectives: Phyllostachys edulis is the most widely distributed and economically important bamboo species in China. However, the genetic transformation in P. edulis is still limited by a long regeneration cycle and low regeneration and transformation efficiency. Carbon nanotube-based delivery systems in plants have the advantages of simplicity, rapidity and low cost. Moreover, morphogenetic regulators BBM (BABY BOOM) and WUS (WUSCHEL) play significant roles in plant regeneration. Methods: Here, immature zygotic embryos were used to induce P. edulis callus, and using single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs)-based delivery technology, PeBBM2, PeWUS-DNA (with introns) and PeWUS-cDNA (without introns) were introduced to P. edulis callus either individually or in combination. Conclusions: The results showed that the 0.9–1.0 mm (long axis) embryos exhibited the lowest contamination rate and the highest induction efficiency. Moreover, the results indicated that the co-transformation of PeBBM2-PeWUS more effectively boosted the growth area of the callus. However, only the PeBBM2-overexpression callus could form shoots. Compared with the wild type, the PeBBM2-overexpression lines showed reduced expression of AGL15 and increased expression of IAA30 and YUC. In conclusion, these findings suggested that SWNTs-mediated DNA delivery is a potential strategy for the genetic transformation of P. edulis callus. Additionally, the findings indicate‌ that the PeBBM2 and PeWUS genes can accelerate callus enlargement in P. edulis, whereas PeBBM2 might play a more important role in shoot formation. This study provides a basis for developing a genetic transformation system for plants based on SWNTs-mediated DNA delivery and morphogenetic regulators. Full article

Physalis peruviana exhibits highly variable and poorly reproducible morphogenic responses under in vitro conditions, limiting the development of reliable regeneration systems. This study evaluated how the interaction between thidiazuron (TDZ), naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), and explant type influences shoot regeneration in the Colombiano ecotype of Physalis peruviana. A factorial design (2 × 3 × 2) revealed that morphogenic responses were primarily driven by interaction effects rather than by individual plant growth regulators. Hypocotyl explants cultured in 4.54 µM TDZ combined with 0.6 µM NAA showed the highest shoot production, shoot formation capacity, and elongation. In contrast, TDZ alone induced limited shoot production, did not support efficient and organized shoot development, and was associated with abnormal morphologies. The response to NAA was non-linear, with intermediate concentrations maximizing shoot regeneration response, indicating that morphogenic competence operates within a narrow hormonal range. Overall, regeneration in the Colombiano ecotype of P. peruviana evaluated here was governed by the interaction between hormonal balance and explant type, identifying favorable conditions for shoot regeneration under the conditions tested. Full article

Restoration of degraded shrublands is a major challenge for combating desertification in arid and semi-arid regions. Caragana korshinskii Kom., a dominant sand-fixing shrub widely planted in northern China, often shows growth decline and structural degradation as stand age increases. Stubble management is widely used to rejuvenate degraded shrublands; however, its influence on nutrient cycling and carbon-nitrogen-phosphorus (C-N-P) stoichiometric coupling within the leaf-soil system remains unclear. Here, we conducted a two-factor field experiment in a 30-year-old degraded C. korshinskii plantation in the Kubuqi Desert, northern China, manipulating stubble height and stubble density. Moderate stubble height (10 cm) significantly increased leaf N concentration (27.37 g kg⁻¹) and improved soil C and N availability, whereas higher stubble height (20 cm) led to elevated leaf N:P ratios (24.2), indicating stronger phosphorus limitation. In addition, all stubble density treatments significantly reduced leaf C:N, C:P, and N:P ratios. Among them, the two stubbled after one retained exhibited the most pronounced effect, with C:N and C:P decreasing to 14 and 273, respectively, and N:P to 20, suggesting an improved nutrient balance and allocation efficiency. Multivariate analyses showed that lower stubble heights combined with alternate-plant stubble patterns (H2D1 and H2D2) enhanced leaf-soil nutrient coupling and promoted coordinated recovery of C-N-P stoichiometry during regeneration. Overall, stubble management regulates shrub rejuvenation mainly by modifying leaf-soil nutrient coupling rather than single-element responses. It is recommended that, in the management of degraded C. korshinskii shrublands, a stubble height of approximately 10 cm combined with staggered cutting (alternate-plant or every two plants) be prioritized as an optimized management regime. Full article

Jatropha curcas L. is an important biofuel plant, but its narrow cultivation range and low seed yield limit its large-scale commercialization. Both genetic improvement and the large-scale clonal propagation of elite genotypes require an efficient and reliable regeneration system. In this study, a high-frequency adventitious shoot regeneration protocol was developed using leaf explants from one-year-old greenhouse-grown plants derived from seeds. An L₉(3³) orthogonal design was employed to optimize the concentrations of plant growth regulators (PGRs). The optimal combination for adventitious shoot induction was 1.0 mg·L⁻¹ TDZ, 0.5 mg·L⁻¹ IBA, and 1.5 mg·L⁻¹ BA. Furthermore, the effect of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a nitric oxide donor, was investigated. Supplementation with 2.0 mg·L⁻¹ SNP significantly increased both the regeneration frequency and the shoot number per explant when compared to the control. Leaf maturity also significantly influenced the regeneration capacity, with the fourth expanded leaf at the light-green stage showing the greatest response. Under optimized conditions, including PGRs, SNP, and appropriate explant maturity, adventitious shoots were observed within 4 weeks, with a regeneration frequency of 88.0% and an average of 18.7 shoots per explant. This system provides a practical basis for the propagation and genetic improvement of J. curcas. Full article

Icariin (ICA), a prenylated flavonoid glycoside from Epimedium (Yin Yang Huo), exhibits multi-organ pharmacological effects and has emerged as a promising candidate for osteoporosis therapy and bone tissue regeneration because of its capacity to modulate diverse osteogenic, anti-inflammatory, and angiogenic signaling pathways. Preclinical studies in osteoporotic models suggest that ICA improves trabecular microarchitecture and increases bone mineral density. Mechanistically, ICA modulates bone remodeling bidirectionally: it promotes osteoblast differentiation and extracellular matrix mineralization via activation of pro-osteogenic pathways, including Wnt/β-catenin and PI3K/Akt signaling, while simultaneously inhibiting osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption by suppressing RANKL-mediated NF-κB activation, thus reestablishing remodeling equilibrium. Despite these benefits, clinical advancement is hindered by the suboptimal oral bioavailability of ICA, stemming from poor intestinal absorption and extensive first-pass metabolism. To address this, innovative delivery systems have been engineered to enhance localized bioavailability and sustain therapeutic efficacy, such as hydrogel depots, nanoparticle formulations, and 3D-printed scaffolds enabling precise, controlled release. In bone tissue engineering applications, ICA-incorporated biomaterials—either standalone or in combination with osteogenic factors or exosomes—foster a regenerative niche by mitigating inflammation and oxidative stress, while synergistically promoting osteogenesis and angiogenesis, thereby expediting bone defect healing and osseointegration. Overall, these mechanistic elucidations and delivery advancements underscore ICA’s potential as a translational candidate for osteoporosis treatment and bone regenerative therapies. This review aims to critically and systematically synthesize current evidence on ICA-mediated bone repair and regeneration, with a particular emphasis on the molecular regulation of osteogenic signaling, the restoration of bone-remodeling homeostasis, and delivery-system-enabled strategies that may facilitate translational application. Full article

Ormosia microphylla is a national first-class protected wild plant in China that faces conservation challenges, including weak natural regeneration and limited environmental adaptability. Plant-associated bacterial communities are important components of host-associated microecosystems, but bacterial community patterns across the whole-plant continuum of O. microphylla remain poorly understood. To provide a descriptive micro-ecological baseline, we characterized bacterial communities across the rhizosphere–root–stem–leaf continuum of O. microphylla in three geographic habitats in Southwest China: karst mountainous area, a plateau-to-plain transitional slope zone, and a hilly area. High-throughput amplicon sequencing was used to analyze bacterial diversity and composition, and co-occurrence network analysis was used to describe statistical associations among bacterial taxa. Three main patterns were observed. First, bacterial alpha diversity generally declined from the rhizosphere to internal tissues (rhizosphere > root > stem > leaf). Second, bacterial composition varied by plant compartment and habitat. Dominant rhizosphere taxa differed among habitats, whereas internal tissues were generally dominated by Proteobacteria. Delftia showed relatively high abundance in several endophytic compartments, suggesting that this genus may be considered a candidate endophytic taxon for future validation. Third, co-occurrence network analysis showed habitat- and compartment-associated differences in network size, complexity, and positive/negative co-occurrence patterns. Overall, these results describe compartment- and habitat-associated bacterial community patterns in O. microphylla and provide a micro-ecological baseline for future culture-dependent and functional studies. Full article

Cellulose is a complex polysaccharide that serves as the primary structural component of plant cell walls. It is highly suitable for packaging films due to its inherent and tunable properties, which offer a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics. In this study, cellulose was extracted from vegetable waste (kale and cabbage) and processed into films using LiCl/N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) as the solvent system. The regenerated cellulose films were characterized and compared with a film prepared from commercial microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) using the same procedure. The vegetable-waste films showed a lower degree of crystallinity than the MCC film. SEM micrographs revealed that the vegetable-waste films possessed smooth and uniform surfaces. Furthermore, they demonstrated good transparency, ductility, and thermal stability. Biodegradation tests indicated rapid decomposition of the vegetable-waste films, which fully degraded within 10 weeks, whereas the MCC film required 16 weeks. The cabbage-derived film exhibited a smoother surface and slightly better mechanical properties than the kale-derived film, suggesting that differences in the cellulose source can influence the regeneration process and, consequently, the properties of the resulting films. Overall, this work demonstrates that vegetable waste can be effectively upcycled into eco-friendly, low-cost cellulose films with strong potential for use in various sustainable material applications. Nevertheless, for edible applications, cytotoxicity testing is required to confirm the absence of residual health-risk reagents such as LiCl and DMAc in the resulting films. Full article

Coal-based methanol-to-olefins (MTO) is a vital technology for establishing the “coal/natural gas-to-olefins” pathway. In this study, an industrial MTO unit of a Chinese coal chemical enterprise was modeled and optimized using plant data. For the reactor-regenerator system, a lumped kinetic model based on the SAPO-34 catalyst was validated against 4 industrial measured datasets, showing high accuracy in predicting effluent distributions and spent catalyst coke content. Multifactor optimization across another 4 measured operating cases increased the total yield of light olefins (ethylene and propylene) by up to 2.22%. Subsequently, a separation flowsheet based on measured plant data was developed in Aspen Plus using the RK-Soave and ENRTL-RK methods, resulting in low relative errors (0.12% for ethylene and 0.05% for propylene). Under the constraints of meeting product quality specifications, sensitivity analysis based on the optimized simulated yield of light olefins was conducted to optimize the side-draw rate of the ethylene column and the reflux ratio of the propylene column, corresponding to an annual energy saving of approximately 1.196 × 10⁸ kW·h, together with an annual increase of 168 t in ethylene production. This work provides a quantitative reference for optimizing operating parameters and reducing energy consumption in industrial units. The optimized operational boundaries proposed herein are within the controllable range of the actual plant, providing operators with actionable guidelines for real-time process intensification and energy reduction. Full article

Although bud banks are key components of vegetation regeneration in degraded alpine meadows, their relationships with soil conditions on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau remain insufficiently understood. In this study, we investigated bud bank composition and density, plant functional group biomass, soil physicochemical properties, and soil microbial biomass across five degradation stages of alpine meadows in a long-term controlled grazing experiment. Field sampling was conducted in mid-August 2021, and the relationships between bud bank densities, plant biomass, and soil variables were evaluated using comparative statistical analyses, redundancy analysis, and structural equation modeling. Bud bank density increased from non-degraded to moderately degraded meadows, reaching 3075 buds m⁻², but declined sharply in severely degraded meadows to 183 buds m⁻². Regarding distinct bud types, rhizome and tiller bud densities peaked in moderately degraded alpine meadows (1217 and 1750 buds m⁻², respectively), whereas dicot bud density peaked in lightly degraded meadows. Bud bank density was positively associated with higher soil moisture content and negatively associated with increased soil bulk density. Moreover, bud bank density was positively correlated with soil organic carbon, total phosphorus, ammonium nitrogen, and soil microbial biomass carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Our findings indicate that soil conditions may favor the maintenance of high bud bank density in moderately degraded meadows with high soil moisture, low bulk density, and more nutrient-rich soil conditions in moderately degraded meadows. Overall, our results indicate that alpine meadow degradation influences belowground regenerative capacity through changes in soil conditions and associated shifts in bud bank dynamics. Therefore, assessments and restoration of degraded alpine meadows should consider bud bank persistence in addition to aboveground vegetation characteristics. Full article

Globba bicolor Gagnep., an ornamental ginger of cultural importance in Thailand’s “Tak Bat Dok Mai” festival, faces conservation challenges due to climate change and slow natural propagation. Limited understanding of its cultivation and chemical composition further constrains sustainable utilization. This study provides the first integrated investigation of micropropagation using rhizome-derived explants under various combinations of exogenous hormones, acclimatization strategies, and comparative phytochemical profiling between wild and in vitro-propagated plants. An optimized clonal regeneration system was established from plantlets, with Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 2.0 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and 0.5 mg/L 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), yielding the highest multiplication (9.10 shoots/explant and 12.40 roots/explant) after eight weeks of cultivation. During acclimatization, sand substrate proved superior, facilitating a 90% survival rate and enhanced physiological vigor. Comparative analysis revealed that while wild plants possessed significantly higher total phenolic (TPC) and total flavonoid (TFC) contents and antioxidant activities (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP) than their in vitro counterparts, both sources maintained a rich diversity of chemical constituents. HPLC analysis identified cinnamic acid, rutin, and quercetin as major metabolites, while GC–MS detected 90 volatile compounds, with β-caryophyllene and β-pinene as predominant constituents. Notably, rhizomes of wild plants exhibited particularly high-value detections. To provide a rapid and non-destructive approach for linking chemical composition with antioxidant activity, FTIR-based chemometric models were applied, demonstrating high predictive accuracy (R²–cv = 0.9712–0.9862). These results provide a scientific foundation for the conservation and sustainable commercial utilization of G. bicolor as a potential source of bioactive natural products. Full article

Skin wound healing involves a delicate balance between proliferation and remodelling processes, with significant therapeutic challenges. The present work aimed to investigate the capacity of hybrid lipid nanocarriers carrying a complex phytochemical profile (HA-NLC-ArnicaM and/or RuscusA extracts) to counteract the destructive action of oxidative free radicals and to accelerate wound closure induced on BJ fibroblast cells. The lipid and hybrid nanocarriers have main diameters ranging from 145 nm to 180 nm, electrokinetic potential between −45 mV and −62 mV, and entrapment efficiency of plant extracts exceeding 96%. HA-NLC-plant extracts exhibit an appropriate level of biocompatibility at concentrations < 50 µg/mL. ArnicaM wins the antioxidant contest while RuscusA proved excellent for accelerating the wound closure process. NLCs and HA-NLCs entrapping ArnicaM manifested the highest capacity to neutralise DPPH free radicals, reaching 79.4% inhibition. BJ fibroblast cells treated with HA-NLCs closed the wound more rapidly than NLCs, with cells reaching maximum wound closure efficiency when treated with 12.5 and 100 µg/mL HA-NLC-RuscusA, followed by HA-NLC-ArnicaM-RuscusA. These results facilitate the design of remarkable hybrid lipid nanocarriers, which exploit the emergence of a pharmacological phytochemical’s synergy, and which could contribute to stimulating signalling pathways and promoting appropriate cellular regeneration, needed for wound healing. Full article

Physalis grisea is an orphan crop with significant economic and medicinal potential. Although initial genome editing applications have recently emerged for Physalis species, the development and optimization of highly efficient, visually traceable Agrobacterium-mediated editing platforms remain crucial for advancing its functional genomics. This study uses the phytoene desaturase (PDS) gene—a key enzyme in the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway—as a visual reporter to develop a CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing platform in P. grisea. A dual-target guide RNA (sgRNA) expression vector was constructed, and transgenic plants were successfully generated via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of hypocotyl explants. Strikingly, phenotypic observations revealed that the regenerated mutants exhibited characteristic complete albino or green-white chimeric phenotypes, accompanied by distinct developmental retardation and dwarfing. Physiological quantitative analysis showed that total chlorophyll and carotenoid contents in the mutant leaves were significantly reduced by over 70% and 78%, respectively. Targeted sequencing further confirmed that the CRISPR/Cas9 system efficiently induced various mutations at the PgPDS locus (derived from Physalis grisea)—including fragment deletions, 1–4 bp insertions, and 2–3 bp substitutions—revealing a specific preference for non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) repair. In summary, this study not only validates the suitability of PgPDS as a reporter gene but also successfully establishes a robust genome editing technical system for P. grisea, providing a solid foundation for future functional genomics research and molecular breeding in this crop. Full article

Nowadays, the global demand for medicinal plants, including A. absinthium L. (wormwood), has increased considerably, leading to significant pressure on their wild populations and the biodiversity of ecosystems. Consequently, the rates of exploitation may exceed those of natural regeneration. This destructive process can be reduced by cultivating plants with the desired secondary metabolites by transferring them from their natural habitats. The present study investigates phytochemistry and the potential antioxidative/prooxidant activity of low-thujone A. absinthium plants. The chemical composition of wormwood extracts and essential oils (EOs) was determined by HPLC/DAD/TOF and GC/MS techniques, respectively. Trans-Sabinyl acetate (59.6 ± 10.1%) predominated in the wormwood EOs, while the content of toxic trans-thujone was negligible (1.2 ± 0.5%). Eighteen acids, such as fumaric, ascorbic, succinic, quinic, malic, gallic, benzoic, (neo/iso)chlorogenic, (di)ferulic, caffeic, etc., were found in 50% methanolic wormwood extracts. Additionally, (epi)catechin, astragalin, diosmetin, piceatannol-3’-O-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside-7-O-glucoside, hesperidin, apigenin-7-O-glucoside, baicalin, 5,7,3′-trihydroxy-3,6,4′,5′-tetramethoxyflavone and rutin were tentatively identified in the extracts. Total phenolic content was found 412.82 ± 11.10 mg/L (of gallic acid equivalent) in A. absinthium methanolic extracts. Using conventional spectroscopic methods, the antioxidant activity (DPPH radicals scavenging) was determined to be 0.83 ± 0.06 mmol/L (TROLOX equivalent) in the wormwood essential oil. ABTS^●+ and DPPH^● scavenging activity means, 3.485 ± 0.07 (TROLOX, mmol/L) and 6.48 ± 0.25 (TROLOX, mmol/L) were revealed for A. absinthium methanolic extracts. Less commonly used methods, electrochemical tests showed the presence of oxidizable compounds with characteristic E_pa values of 0.38 and 0.61 V. Moreover, hydrogen peroxide scavenging tests were performed. The largest quantity of peroxide (31.86 ± 0.1 μmol/L) was formed in the wormwood boiling infusions (at pH = 7.2). As the presence of toxic and neurotoxic thujone isomers is undesirable, therefore, the search for low- or thujone-free plants from natural populations that exhibit biological activity (i.e., antioxidant/prooxidant) is of great importance. Full article

Lilium, a traditional plant with dual medicinal and ornamental values, is restricted in its industrial development by the low natural propagation rate of bulbs and dependence on imported high-quality germplasm. To address this bottleneck, this study used new lines of LA hybrid lilies and Asiatic hybrid lilies (three cultivars) as experimental materials to establish an efficient and stable tissue culture and rapid propagation system. Key procedures including disinfection of different explants (bulb scales and capsules), adventitious bud induction and proliferation, rooting culture, as well as acclimatization and transplantation were systematically evaluated. The results showed that bulb scales were superior to capsule seeds as explants in tissue culture (contamination rate 9.44%, regeneration rate 11.92%). After disinfection with 75% ethanol combined with 10% sodium hypochlorite, the contamination rate could be controlled at 14.29–21.43%, and the regeneration rate reached 100%. Supplementation with 50 g·L⁻¹ sucrose + 1 mg·L⁻¹ 6-BA + 0.1 mg·L⁻¹ NAA (Treatment TA1), 50 g·L⁻¹ sucrose + 2 mg·L⁻¹ 6-BA + 0.5 mg·L⁻¹ NAA (Treatment TA4) in MS medium, combined with dark culture, could effectively promote adventitious bud induction, proliferation and bulblet enlargement. For the rooting stage, the optimal media were 1/2 MS + 0.5 g·L⁻¹ activated charcoal + 2 mg·L⁻¹ 6-BA + 0.5 mg·L⁻¹ NAA (Treatment TB4) or MS + 0.3 g·L⁻¹ activated charcoal + 2 mg·L⁻¹ 6-BA + 0.5 mg·L⁻¹ NAA (Treatment TB1), and the highest rooting rate of ‘Pink Renault’ reached 100%. When plantlets from all three cultivars were combined and acclimatized and transplanted into sterilized peat soil, the overall survival rate was 89.33%. The TOPSIS method was also adopted for comprehensive evaluation to screen out the optimal culture conditions for different varieties. Based on phenotypic observation and physiological index data, ‘Pink Renault’ showed great potential as an excellent propagation germplasm. The integrated and optimized technical system provides a feasible solution for large-scale and industrialized seedling production of medicinal and ornamental lilies, and is of great practical significance for the efficient utilization of germplasm resources and sustainable development of the lily industry. Full article

As globally important ornamental and medicinal plants, orchids exhibit significant differences in the difficulty and pathways of in vitro regeneration. Most orchid species can directly form protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) through the differentiation of shoot tips or other explants, which then regenerate into new plantlets, while some species form callus through explant dedifferentiation followed by PLB differentiation from the callus. At present, the regenerative mechanisms underlying PLB and callus in orchids, as well as the key factors influencing their differentiation, remain poorly elucidated. In this study, seedlings of Dendrobium officinale obtained from aseptic seed germination were used to investigate the effects of explant type, 2,4-D concentration, temperature, light intensity and photoperiod on the induction of PLBs and callus. The results showed that there were no significant differences in callus induction among the tested explants in D. officinale, whereas stem nodal segments were more suitable for PLB induction. For both internodal and nodal segments, the incidence rate of callus formation was higher than that of PLBs. The concentration of 2,4-D influenced the induction direction of the explants; higher concentration promoted PLB induction, while lower concentration was sufficient for callus formation. Low temperature and low light intensity inhibited PLB induction while promoting callus formation in D. officinale. High temperature and intense light partially caused desiccation of explants. A temperature of 25/22 °C (day/night) and a photosynthetic photon flux density of 50 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ were more suitable for callus or PLB induction in D. officinale. A shorter photoperiod favored callus induction, while a longer photoperiod was beneficial for PLB induction. This study reveals the differences in influencing factors for PLB and callus induction in D. officinale, providing important insights for the propagation of orchid seedlings and laying a significant foundation for elucidating the mechanisms of PLB and callus induction. Full article