Genome-wide Analysis of the WRKY Gene Family and its Response to Abiotic Stress in Buckwheat ().

The WRKY gene family is an ancient plant transcription factor (TF) family with a vital role in plant growth and development, especially in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Although many researchers have studied WRKY TFs in numerous plant species, little is known of them in Tartary buckwheat (). Based on the recently reported genome sequence of Tartary buckwheat, we identified 78 FtWRKY proteins that could be classified into three major groups.

Plant Regeneration of Chun.

Chun is a large, fast-growing deciduous tree. In this study, we successfully developed a reliable and efficient protocol for the regeneration of fertile plants via callus induction from leaf segments of young Z. insignis seedlings.

Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP): Emergence As an Alternative Technology for Herbal Medicine Identification.

Correct identification of medicinal plant ingredients is essential for their safe use and for the regulation of herbal drug supply chain. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a recently developed approach to identify herbal medicine species. This novel molecular biology technique enables timely and accurate testing, especially in settings where infrastructures to support polymerase chain reaction facilities are lacking.

[Application of high resolution melting curve to identification of Cimicifugae Rhizoma].

High-resolution-melting analysis (HRM) is a new technology derived from q PCR and is widely used in the study of polymorphism, genotyping, and single nucleotide mutation. Advantages of HRM include cost-effectiveness and time-efficiency over PCR-based genotyping. However, the application of HRM in the authentication of herbal products is still limited with few studies on the classification and identification of herbal products.

Development of 18 novel microsatellite primers for Begonia fimbristipula (Begoniaceae), an endangered medicinal plant in China.

Premise Of The Study: Begonia fimbristipula (Begoniaceae) is a medicinal herb distributed in the Chinese provinces of Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hunan, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang, and it is on the verge of extinction due to habitat destruction and deterioration of its ecosystem. Here we developed a set of highly polymorphic microsatellite markers for population genetic and conservation studies of this endangered medicinal plant.

Methods And Results: Using the Fast Isolation by AFLP of Sequences COntaining repeats (FIASCO) protocol, 18 polymorphic microsatellite markers were identified within 48 individuals from two geographic locations.

The Potential Power of Bar-HRM Technology in Herbal Medicine Identification.

The substitution of low-cost or adulterated herbal products for high-priced herbs makes it important to be able to identify and trace herbal plant species and their processed products in the drug supply chain. PCR-based methods play an increasing role in monitoring the safety of herbal medicines by detecting adulteration. Recent studies have shown the potential of DNA barcoding combined with high resolution melting (Bar-HRM) analysis in herbal medicine identification.