Relationship between leaf vein traits of three dominant species and ecological factors in the Qinling Mountains, China.

We investigated the inter- and intra-species differences of leaf vein traits of three dominant species, , var. , and of Niubeiling (subtropical humid climate) and Taohuagou (warm temperate semi-humid climate), located in the eastern and western Qinling Mountains. The nine examined leaf vein traits included primary leaf vein width, secondary leaf vein width, mean fine vein width, primary vein density, fine vein density, vein areole diameter, areole density, 3D fine vein surface area, and fine vein volume.

Comparison of species composition and community characteristics of forests on south and north slopes of Taibai Mountain, China.

We examined species composition, community characteristics, diversity, and community similarity of five communities composed of three species (, var, ) on the altitudinal gradient on the south and north slopes of Taibai Mountain. The results showed that there was an altitudinal transition pattern from pure forest to . variabilis- var mixed forest, var pure forest, var mixed forest and pure forest on the south and north slopes of Taibai Mountain.

Co/Zn Bimetallic Catalysis Enables Enantioselective Alkynylation of Isatins and α-Ketoesters Using Terminal Alkynes.

We present herein a novel cobalt/zinc bimetallic catalysis system for the realization of an efficient and enantioselective alkynylation of isatins and α-ketoesters using terminal alkynes. By using a simple procedure with all commercially available catalysts, including cobalt bromide, a chiral bisphosphine ligand, and zinc triflate, a range of synthetically useful tertiary propargylic alcohols are accessed with high yields and good enantioselectivities. Control reactions showed that this catalytic system proceeds through activation of the terminal alkyne by zinc triflate and a base, transmetalation from zinc to cobalt, and then the enantio-determining alkynylation of ketones.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Enantioconvergent Isomerization of Homoallylic and Bishomoallylic Secondary Alcohols.

We present herein an unprecedented enantioselective isomerization of homoallylic and bishomoallylic secondary alcohols, catalyzed by a commercially available rhodium-complex and a base. This catalytic redox-neutral process provides an effective access to chiral ketones in high efficiency and enantioselectivity, without the use of any stoichiometric reagent or generation of any waste. For the reaction of homoallylic alcohols, this system achieved not only a stereoconvergent access to chiral ketones bearing a β-stereocenter (up to 95%, 86% ee) but also a concomitant oxidative kinetic resolution of the alcohol substrates (S > 20).

Cobalt-Catalyzed Enantioselective Vinylation of Activated Ketones and Imines.

We present here an unprecedented cobalt-catalyzed enantioselective vinylation of α-ketoesters, isatins, and imines to deliver a range of synthetically useful allylic alcohols and amines in high enantiopurity. This method employs commercially available and easy to handle catalysts and reagents and exhibits a high degree of practicality. The efficiency, selectivity, and operational simplicity of this catalytic system coupled with the substrate generality render this method a valuable tool in organic synthesis.

Cobalt-Catalyzed Allylation of Heterobicyclic Alkenes: Ligand-Induced Divergent Reactivities.

The allylation of heterobicyclic alkenes is presented for the first time. By using an inexpensive cobalt salt as the catalyst and easy-to-handle potassium allyltrifluoroborate as the reagent, an unprecedented formal hydroallylation of the bicyclic alkenes is realized in high efficiency. When a chiral cobalt/bis(phosphine) complex is used instead, the alternative ring-opening products can be obtained in high yield and excellent enantioselectivity.

BnWRI1 coordinates fatty acid biosynthesis and photosynthesis pathways during oil accumulation in rapeseed.

Photosynthesis in "green" seeds, such as rapeseed, soybean, and Arabidopsis, plays a substantial role in the improved efficiency of oil accumulation. However, the molecular mechanism underpinning the coordinated expression of fatty acid (FA) biosynthesis- and photosynthesis-related genes in such developing seeds remains to be elucidated. Here, we found that seed-specific overexpression of BnWRI1, a WRI1 homolog from rapeseed (Brassica napus cv.

Highly efficient transformation and plant regeneration of tall fescue mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

An efficient and reproducible system has been developed for the production of transgenic plants in tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) using A. tumefaciens-mediated transformation.