Microbiota-mediated nitrogen fixation and microhabitat homeostasis in aerial root-mucilage.

Background: Plants sustain intimate relationships with diverse microbes. It is well-recognized that these plant-associated microbiota shape individual performance and fitness of host plants, but much remains to be explored regarding how they exert their function and maintain their homeostasis.

Results: Here, using pink lady (Heterotis rotundifolia) as a study plant, we investigated the phenomenon of microbiota-mediated nitrogen fixation and elucidated how this process is steadily maintained in the root mucilage microhabitat.

Multiomics Reveals the Effect of Root Rot on Polygonati Rhizome and Identifies Pathogens and Biocontrol Strain.

Root (rhizome) rot of plants has received substantial attention because it threatens yield and sustainable utilization in the polygonati rhizome industry. However, the potential pathogens that cause rhizome rot as well as the direct and indirect (via root-associated microbes) strategies by which defends against pathogens remain largely unknown. Herein, we used integrated multiomics of plant-targeted metabolomics and transcriptomics, microbiome, and culture-based methods to systematically investigate the interactions between the Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua root-associated microbiota and pathogens.

Ethnomedicine study on traditional medicinal plants in the Wuliang Mountains of Jingdong, Yunnan, China.

Background: The Wuliang Mountains of the Jingdong region is a settlement area of the Yi community located in south-western Yunnan Province in China. Due to its unique geographical location, this area harbours abundant medicinal plant resources. The medicinal plants used by the local people have a long history and play an important role in their daily life.

[Variation patterns of Coptis teeta biomass and its major active compounds along an altitude gradient].

An investigation was made on the biomass and major active compounds of wild and cultivated Coptis teeta along an altitude gradient in Nujiang of Yunnan. The results showed that the rhizome and root biomass of wild C. teeta increased from the altitude 2100 m to 2700 m, but the difference was not significant.