News
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2025-03-23Plant nitrogen uptake preference and drivers in natural ecosystems at the global scalePlant nitrogen (N) uptake for different soil N forms is one of the most critical N strategie to mitigate N competition among plants, maintain plant growth, and contribute to ecosystem carbon (C) sequestration. In this study, we investigated the global patterns and main driving factors of plant N uptake for different forms of N. The results are i... Nitrogen (N) is the primary nutrient element limiting the growth and productivity of terrestrial plants. Elucidating plant N acquisition is crucial for understanding plant N strategies and ecosystem productivity.Based on the global-scale 15N tracer studies about plant N uptake strategies, researchers found that globally, the average contribution...Read More -
2025-03-05Atmospheric nitrogen deposition has minor impacts on the abundance and diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and their contribution to soil carbon stock in tropical forests① This field study and meta-analysis revealed that realistic levels of nitrogen (N) addition (≤50 kg N ha−1 yr−1) caused minimal changes in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) abundance and diversity, while high-level N addition (>50 kg N ha−1 yr−1) reduced AMF abundance and diversity. ② Current atmospheric N deposition is unlikely to enha... Knowledge about arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is crucial for understanding nutrient limitations on primary productivity and soil organic carbon (C) storage in terrestrial ecosystems. Both theoretical models and empirical evidence hold that nitrogen (N) addition in phosphorus-limited ecosystems can either increase or decrease AMF diversity a...Read More -
2025-03-05Contribute a Tansley Insight review on the topic of coevolution between plants and their cryptic pollinatorsObligate pollination mutualisms are ideal models for studying coevolution. This review discusses the interacting patterns, co-adaptations, and coevolution in two pollination mutualisms characterised by reciprocal adaptations between cryptic insects and their host plants. The pollination mutualisms between plants and animals play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity, ecosystem services, and agricultural productivity. Nocturnal insects, which typically visit flowers at night, are often overlooked due to their activity during low-light conditions and outside of standard human activity cycles. However, the pol...Read More -
2025-02-27Plant key functional traits in species adaptation and screening for vegetation restoration on coral islandsPlants shift from growth to tolerance strategies to adapt to harsh coral island environments, with leaf thickness, plant height, palisade and spongy tissue thickness as key traits in screening restoration species. Nine species were identified for tropical coral island restoration, offering practical guidance for revegetation efforts. The South China Sea islands, numerous and vast in area, hold significant strategic implications and are also vulnerable to disturbance and degradation. The harsh coral island environment such as seasonal drought, intense light, strong wind, and high temperature make plant survival and growth difficult, emphasizing the need for suitable restorati...Read More -
2025-02-20A novel E3 ubiquitination ligase CIRP1 targets CATALASES to maintain ROS homeostasis in ArabidopsisA novel E3 ubiquitination ligase CIRP1 targets CATALASES to maintain ROS homeostasis in Arabidopsis. Due to the immobility of plants, stress response and tolerance are critical for their survival when subjected to environmental stress such as drought, salt, as well as biotic stress. ROS acts as the signal molecules upstream of stress response and works with various phytohormone such as ABA, JA, and SAsignaling pathway. Stress-induced ROS burst ...Read More -
2025-02-16Chinese Academy of Sciences Study: Global Mangrove Restoration Potential is Huge, Economic Benefits are SignificantMangroves, known as one of the most unique ecosystems on Earth, are often referred to as the"rainforests of the sea."According to the study, the ecosystem service valueof global mangroves was estimated at$894 billion in 2019. A research team from the South China Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has recently released a groundbreaking study on global mangrove conservation and restoration. The findings highlight not only the ecological importance but also the significant economic value of mangrove ecosystems.Mangroves, known as one of the most unique ...Read More -
2025-01-26Uncovers the regulatory mechanism of cytokinin-induced accumulation of secondary metabolites in Santalum album heartwoodThis study reveals details of the regulatory mechanism underlying the cytokinin-induced production of secondary metabolites, which determine the fragrance and color of Santalum album heartwood. Indian sandalwood(Santalum album) is a small tropical tree in the Santalaceae. This species is the most important species in the Santalumgenus owing to its high quality essential oil (EO) in heartwood, whichis widely utilized in the perfume industry andmedical field. The EO contains (Z)-α-santalol and (Z)-β-santalol, accounting for more than 8...Read More -
2025-01-16New progress in the regulation of banana cold stress response mediated by microRNAs has been made by South China Botanical Garden, the Chinese Academy of SciencesDuring an expedition to Yongxing Island, researchers found two parasitoid species with high parasitism rates on two main pests of the beach naupaka, Scaevola taccada, indicating these two parasitoid species have great potential to be used as biological control agents. The prevention and control of chilling injury has always been a technical problem in the fruit preservation industry, and exploring the regulatory mechanism of chilling injury is a frontier scientific question in postharvest biology. Banana is the most produced and traded fruit in the world, and as a tropical crop, banana is very sensitive to lo...Read More