Recent advances on phylogenomics of gymnosperms and a new classification.

Living gymnosperms comprise four major groups: cycads, , conifers, and gnetophytes. Relationships among/within these lineages have not been fully resolved. Next generation sequencing has made available a large number of sequences, including both plastomes and single-copy nuclear genes, for reconstruction of solid phylogenetic trees.

, a new endangered species of Dipteridaceae from Shenzhen, southern China.

, a new species of ferns from Shenzhen, Guangdong, southern China, is identified and described. It closely resembles but possesses several unique traits, such as long rhizome scales, castaneous stipe, and abaxially pale fronds with two fan-shaped fronds connected by a broad wing. Molecular evidence showed that is allied to , whereas it has morphologically significant differences ( < 0.

, a new species of Gnetaceae from southwestern China.

, a new lianoid species of Gnetaceae, is described from southwestern China. The new species is morphologically similar to Markgr. in its oblong elliptic leaves and the ovoid to ellipsoid chlamydosperm, but differs from the latter by its shorter male spikes having fewer involucral collars (7-10 vs.

The hornwort genome and early land plant evolution.

Hornworts, liverworts and mosses are three early diverging clades of land plants, and together comprise the bryophytes. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of the hornwort Anthoceros angustus. Phylogenomic inferences confirm the monophyly of bryophytes, with hornworts sister to liverworts and mosses.

Genome- Wide Analysis of the Nucleotide Binding Site Leucine-Rich Repeat Genes of Four Orchids Revealed Extremely Low Numbers of Disease Resistance Genes.

Orchids are one of the most diverse flowering plant families, yet possibly maintain the smallest number of the nucleotide-binding site-leucine-rich repeat () type plant resistance () genes among the angiosperms. In this study, a genome-wide search in four orchid taxa identified 186 genes. Furthermore, 214 genes were identified from seven orchid transcriptomes.

The complete chloroplast genome of (Magnoliaceae), a rare and endangered species of China.

Chiu & Chen is a rare and endangered species endemic to subtropical China. Here we assembled and annotated the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of The chloroplast genome of is 160,076 bp in length and encodes 79 protein-coding genes, 30 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes and four ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. The maximum-likelihood (ML) phylogenetic analysis result reveals that is most closely related to .

A review of the use of pteridophytes for treating human ailments.

The aim of this review was to explore the pharmacological activity of early tracheophytes (pteridophytes) as an alternative medicine for treating human ailments. As the first vascular plants, pteridophytes (aka, ferns and fern allies) are an ancient lineage, and human beings have been exploring and using taxa from this lineage for over 2000 years because of their beneficial properties. We have documented the medicinal uses of pteridophytes belonging to thirty different families.

A genome for gnetophytes and early evolution of seed plants.

Gnetophytes are an enigmatic gymnosperm lineage comprising three genera, Gnetum, Welwitschia and Ephedra, which are morphologically distinct from all other seed plants. Their distinctiveness has triggered much debate as to their origin, evolution and phylogenetic placement among seed plants. To increase our understanding of the evolution of gnetophytes, and their relation to other seed plants, we report here a high-quality draft genome sequence for Gnetum montanum, the first for any gnetophyte.

Complete chloroplast genome sequence of Magnolia kwangsiensis (Magnoliaceae): implication for DNA barcoding and population genetics.

Here, we report a completely sequenced plastome using Illumina/Solexa sequencing-by-synthesis (SBS) technology. The plastome of Magnolia kwangsiensis Figlar & Noot. is 159 667 bp in length with a typical quadripartite structure: 88 030 bp large single-copy (LSC) and 18 669 bp small single-copy (SSC) regions, separated by two 26 484 bp inverted repeat (IR) regions.

[Genetic diversity of medicinal plant Lonicera confusa populations revealed by random amplified polymorphic DNA].

Objective: To analyze the genetic diversity and differentiation degree of five Lonicera confusa populations.

Methods: Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were perfomed to amplify the discernible loci.

Results: A total of 100 loci were obtained for all populations using ten primers, 87.

Phylogeny of the Schisandraceae based on cpDNA mat-K and rpL16 intron data.

The chloroplast mat-K region and rpL16 intron region were sequenced for 14 species of Schisandraceae, representing both genera Kadsura Kaempf. ex Juss. and Schisandra Michx, to discuss the phylogeny of this family.

A phylogeny of the rice tribe Oryzeae (Poaceae) based on matK sequence data.

Phylogenetic relationships were inferred using nucleotide sequences of the chloroplast gene matK for 26 species representing 11 genera of the tribe Oryzeae and three outgroup species. The sequenced fragments varied from 1522 base pairs (bp) to 1534 bp in length with 15.4% variable and 7.