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WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX), a specific gene family in plants, plays a critical role during stem cell regulation, plant regeneration and upgrowth. However, our understanding of WOX functions in conifers is limited compared to angiosperms. To address this gap, we investigated the presence, expression profiles and protein characteristics of WOX gene in P. yunnanensis . Our findings revealed that 10 PyWOX genes were dispersed across three existing clades, and their expression profiles were presented in specific developmental stages and tissues. The ancient-clade members ( PyWOX13 , PyWOXG , PyWOXA ) exhibited constitutive expressions in most tissues and developmental stages, indicating that they are the oldest and conserved WOX genes. Members of the intermediate-clade ( PyWOXB , PyWOXE ) were primarily expressed during callus formation and seed germination, suggesting a role in promoting embryogenesis and plant regeneration. Most members of WUS-clade ( PyWUS , PyWOX3 , PyWOX4 , PyWOX5 , PyWOXX ) showed high transcripts level in cluster buds, which may be related to meristematic development and the formation of axillary meristems. The self-activation assay demonstrated that PyWOX4 has transcriptional activation activity. Our study also suggested that there were highly conserved and clear orthologs of WOX genes present in Pinus . Together, these findings provide a foundation for further clarifying the function and regulatory mechanism of WOX genes in P. yunnanensis growth and development.

Pinus yunnanensis is a pioneer tree species and an important timber tree species for afforestation in barren hills in southwest China. It can improve the degradation of P. yunnanensis germplasm resources by decapitation to get high-quality spikes to establish a cutting nursery. The growth and development of sprouting tillers is the result of coordinated regulation of various endogenous hormones, and finally develops into spikes. We aimed to investigate the content changes of endogenous hormones indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), gibberellin 3 (GA 3 ), zeatin (ZT), and abscisic acid (ABA) in P. yunnanensis seedlings after decapitation, and to lay a foundation for hormone regulation mechanism in combination with sprouting ability. The plant were one-year-old P. yunnanensis seedlings, the hormone variation characteristics were clarified by decapitation to promote sprouting, and combined with the sprouting ability to analyze the endogenous hormone variations. Decapitation significantly improved GA 3 , ZT+GA 3 , IAA+ZT+GA 3 , and the early sprouting stage (ESS) of IAA and ABA. ZT was no significant change. Decapitation significantly improved the GA 3 /ABA, (ZT+GA 3 )/ABA, (IAA+ZT+GA 3 )/ABA and the ESS of IAA/ABA, and significantly reduced ZT/IAA in the ESS responded decapitation by changing the contents and the balance. The changes in dynamic balance in GA 3 , GA 3 /ABA, (ZT+GA 3 )/ABA, and (IAA+ZT+GA 3 )/ABA were the most significant. The sprouts number was significantly positively correlated with GA 3 , ZT+GA 3 , IAA+ZT+GA 3 , GA 3 /ABA, (ZT+GA 3 )/ABA, (IAA+ZT+GA 3 )/ABA, and significant positive correlation with ZT/IAA. Sprouts growth was extremely significantly positively correlated with GA 3 , GA 3 /ABA, (ZT+GA 3 )/ABA, and (IAA+ZT+GA 3 )/ABA. The hormone contents and ratios regulated the occurrence and germination of growth. Dynamic balance of GA 3 , GA 3 /ABA, (ZT+GA 3 )/ABA, and (IAA+ZT+GA 3 )/ABA played more important roles in the number and growth of sprouts. GA 3 played a crucial regulatory role in promoting the sprouting and growth. IAA, ZT, and ABA played an important regulatory role through the interaction between hormones. The mutual balance of hormones promotes the growth and development of sprouting tillers of P.yunnanensis . This experiment explored the response of endogenous hormone content and ratio changes to tiller sprouting by comparing decapitation and non-decapitation, explored the growth and development law of P. yunnanensis tiller sprouting, shortened the seedlings cycle, and provided a scientific basis for the establishment of cutting nursery.

Appropriate nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilization is critical for plant growth and production. Pinus yunnanensis , a silvicultural tree in southwestern China, faces economic and ecological limitations due to nutrient deficiency in the soils in its distribution areas. The slow growth of this species during the seedling stage exacerbates these problems. Therefore, it is important to realize the regulating effects of N and P proportioning fertilization on seedling growth to enhance nutrient-use efficiency. In this study, variations in morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics of seedlings were analyzed under nine treatments of NP proportioning in an open nursery using a regression design. Growth in height and basal diameter increased and showed an approximate tendency in all treatments. The maximum biomass accumulation was observed at 480 d after treatment in roots of T5 (14.714 g) (application N 0.4 g·per −1 and P 3 g·per −1 ), stems of T5 (12.654 g), leaves of T9 (24.261 g) (application N 0.8 g·per −1 and P 6 g·per −1 ), aboveground parts of T9 (35.402 g) and individuals of T5 (49 g). The total chlorophyll content peaked in the leaves at 120 d and was correlated with the peak levels of N, P, and K in leaves. The content and reserves of nutrient elements in the organs of seedlings subjected to NP proportioning were significantly higher than those in unfertilized seedlings. Analysis of nutrient utilization efficiency revealed that T5 demonstrated superior seedling growth performance. Appropriate fertilization dosage of N and P for P. yunnanensis seedlings in this study was 0.32 g·per −1 –0.58 g·per −1 and 3.02 g·per −1 –4.95 g·per −1 respectively, using path analysis and regression equation. Transcriptomic sequencing revealed that there were 2,301 DEGs between T5 and T1 (control), which were involved in the uptake and assimilation of nutrients, biosynthesis of phytohormones and secondary metabolites, and photosynthesis. Additionally, the abundance of genes involved in cell division and proliferation, cellulose biosynthesis, and cell wall extension were dramatically upregulated, which potentially correlated with enhanced seedling growth. In conclusion, this study provides comprehensive information on the response of seedlings to varying proportions of N and P and may promote the growth of P. yunnanensis seedlings by optimizing the proportion of N and P in fertilizers.

Heat rejection in the hot-arid area is of concern to power cycles, especially for the transcritical Rankine cycle using CO2 as the working fluid in harvesting the low-grade energy. Usually, water is employed as the cooling substance in Rankine cycles. In this paper, the transcritical Rankine cycle with CO2/R161 mixture and dry air cooling systems had been proposed to be used in arid areas with water shortage. A design and rating model for mixture-air cooling process were developed based on small-scale natural draft dry cooling towers. The influence of key parameters on the system’s thermodynamic performance was tested. The results suggested that the thermal efficiency of the proposed system was decreased with the increases in the turbine inlet pressure and the ambient temperature, with the given thermal power as the heat source. Additionally, the cooling performance of natural draft dry cooling tower was found to be affected by the ambient temperature and the turbine exhaust temperature.

Plant polyphenols possess beneficial functions against various diseases. This study aimed to identify phenolic ingredients in ( ) and investigate its possible underlying anti-inflammatory mechanism in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced human monocytes (THP-1) macrophages.  polyphenols (CFP) were characterized by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) combined with quadrupole-time-of-flight mass/mass spectrometry (Q-TOF-MS/MS). The THP-1 cells were differentiated into macrophages under the stimulation of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and then treated with LPS to build a cellular inflammation model. The cell viability was detected by CCK-8 assay. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were assessed by flow cytometry. The secretion and expression of inflammatory cytokines were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In addition, the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways were analyzed by Western blotting. Twelve phenolic constituents including (-)-epicatechin, casuariin, agastachoside, etc. in CFP were identified. The CCK-8 assay showed that CFP exhibited no significant cytotoxicity between 100 and 300 μg/mL. After treated with CFP, the release of ROS was significantly suppressed. CFP inhibited inflammation in macrophages by attenuating the polarization of LPS-induced THP-1 macrophages, down-regulating the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α, and up-regulating the expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Western blotting experiments manifested that CFP could markedly inhibit the phosphorylation of p65, ERK and JNK, thereby suppressing the activation of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. These findings indicated that CFP exerted anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the activation NF-κB and MAPK pathways which may induce the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This study offers a reference for as the source of developing natural, safe anti-inflammatory agents in the future.

Pinus yunnanensis is an important component of China’s economic development and forest ecosystems. The growth of P. yunnanensis seedlings experienced a slow growth phase, which led to a long seedling cultivation period. However, asexual reproduction can ensure the stable inheritance of the superior traits of the mother tree and also shorten the breeding cycle. The quantity and quality of branching significantly impact the cutting reproduction of P. yunnanensis, and a shaded environment affects lateral branching growth, development, and photosynthesis. Nonetheless, the physiological characteristics and the level of the transcriptome that underlie the growth of lateral branches of P. yunnanensis under shade conditions are still unclear. In our experiment, we subjected annual P. yunnanensis seedlings to varying shade intensities (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%) and studied the effects of shading on growth, physiological and biochemical changes, and gene expression in branching. Results from this study show that shading reduces biomass production by inhibiting the branching ability of P. yunnanensis seedlings. Due to the regulatory and protective roles of osmotically active substances against environmental stress, the contents of soluble sugars, soluble proteins, photosynthetic pigments, and enzyme activities exhibit varying responses to different shading treatments. Under shading treatment, the contents of phytohormones were altered. Additionally, genes associated with phytohormone signaling and photosynthetic pathways exhibited differential expression. This study established a theoretical foundation for shading regulation of P. yunnanensis lateral branch growth and provides scientific evidence for the management of cutting orchards.

A Zn–Al composite coating was successfully deposited on Q235 steel by cold spray technology for the corrosion protection in the marine atmosphere. The microstructure and corrosion behavior of the prepared coating was studied byScanning Electron Microscope (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), salt spray test and electrochemical experiments. A 2400-h neutral salt spray corrosion test (with a corrosion medium of 3.5% sodium chloride solution) showed that the prepared cold-sprayed Zn-Al composite coating has excellent anti-corrosion properties. Based on the microstructure evolution and corrosion products analysis, droplets’ flow-driven ‘synergistic corrosion effect’ was proposed to explain the co-corrosion behavior of Zn and Al particles in the composite coating.

Camellia fascicularis has important ornamental, medicinal, and food values, which also have tremendous potential for exploiting bioactivities. We performed the bioactivity-guided (antioxidant and antimicrobial) screening of eight fractions obtained from the ethyl acetate phase of C. fascicularis. The antioxidant activity was measured by DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP, and the antibacterial activity was measured by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. The results of bioactivity-guided isolation indicated that the major antioxidant compounds in the ethanolic extracts of C. fascicularis may be present in fractions (Fr.) (A–G, obtained after silica gel column chromatography). Fr. (D–I, obtained after silica gel column chromatography) is a fraction of C. fascicularis with antimicrobial activity. The structures of compounds were determined by spectral analysis and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) combined with the available literature on secondary metabolites of C. fascicularis leaves. In this study, 17 compounds were identified, including four phenolics (1, 3–4, and 14), a phenylpropane (2), five terpenoids (5–7, 12, and 15), four flavonoids and flavonoid glycosides (8–10 and 16), and two lignins (13 and 17). Compounds 4–7, 13–15, and 17 were isolated from the genus Camellia for first time. The remaining compounds were also isolated from C. fascicularis for first time. The evaluation of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities revealed that compounds 1, 3, 9, 11, and 17 exhibited higher antioxidant activity than the positive control drug (ascorbic acid), and compounds 4, 8, 10, and 13 showed similar activity to ascorbic acid. The other compounds had weaker or no significant antioxidant activities. The MIC of antibacterial activity for compounds 4, 7, and 11–13 against P. aeruginosa was comparable to that of the positive control drug tetracycline at 125 µg/mL, and other secondary metabolites inhibited E. coli and S. aureus at 250–500 µg/mL. This is also the first report of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of compounds 5–7, 13–15, and 17. The results of the study enriched the variety of secondary metabolites of C. fascicularis and laid the foundation for further research on the pharmacological efficacy and biological activity of this plant.

Camellia fascicularis belongs to the family Theaceae and is a plant species with extremely small populations. It is also a second-class national protected plant in China. In recent years, the anti-inflammation, antioxidation, and antitumor effects of C. fascicularis polyphenols and flavonoids have been reported. However, changes in the soil chemistry and microbes after artificial cultivation of C. fascicularis have not been well studied. Therefore, three healthy plants from each different artificial planting year’s plot (Age_3, Age_5, and Age_7) were selected, and the chemical properties of the rhizosphere soil and root endophytic microbial communities for different cultivation years of C. fascicularis were studied in Hekou County, China. The accumulation of pathogenic and beneficial microbes in the rhizosphere of C. fascicularis was also discussed. The results show that (1) the alpha diversity in rhizosphere soil was significantly higher than that in roots, and roots recruited more Actinobacteria, which might produce beneficial secondary metabolites for the plant; (2) the total nitrogen in the rhizosphere soil of C. fascicularis cultivated for 7 years was significantly higher than that in the soil cultivated for 3 years; (3) there was no significant difference in the alpha and beta diversity in the rhizosphere soil and root endophytes of C. fascicularis in different cultivation years; (4) there was no difference in the abundance of plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in either the rhizosphere soil or roots, but the number of PGPR in roots was higher than that in rhizosphere soil; and (5) the changes in pathogenic fungi and biocontrol fungi in rhizosphere soil were greater than those of endophytic fungi in roots. The results show that there are no significant differences in microbial communities among 3, 5, and 7 years, but the influence of the outside environment on the soil and fungi was greater than that of the roots and bacteria. These results can help us to understand the soil chemical and microbial community changes during the artificial cultivation of C. fascicularis and play an important role in its artificial conservation and breeding, as it is a plant species with extremely small populations.

As one of the most influential environmental factors, drought stress greatly impacts the development and production of plants. Triploid-induced Passiflora edulis Sims ‘Mantianxing’ is an important new cultivar for multi-resistance variety selective breeding, which is one of the P. edulis breeding essential targets. However, the performance of triploid ‘Mantianxing’ under drought stress is unknown. In order to study the drought resistance of triploid ‘Mantianxing’, our study compared drought-related indicators in diploids and triploids under natural drought experiments, including morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics. Results showed that triploid P. edulis ‘Mantianxing’ showed variable responses to drought treatment. Compared with diploids, triploids showed higher photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence, osmotic adjustment substances, and antioxidant enzyme activity under drought stress and faster chlorophyll biosynthesis and growth recovery after rewatering. Generally speaking, these results indicate that the drought resistance of triploid P. edulis is superior to diploid. This study provides scientific information for breeding stress tolerance variety of P. edulis ‘Mantianxing’ new cultivar.