Kadsura coccinea is a medicinal plant from the Schisandraceae family that is native to China and has great pharmacological potential due to its lignans. However, there are significant knowledge gaps regarding the genetic and molecular mechanisms of lignans. We used transcriptome sequencing technology to analyze root, stem, and leaf samples, focusing on the identification and phylogenetic analysis of Cytochrome P450 (CYP) genes. High-quality data containing 158,385 transcripts and 68,978 unigenes were obtained. In addition, 36,293 unigenes in at least one database, and 23,335 across five databases (Nr, KEGG, KOG, TrEMBL, and SwissProt) were successfully annotated. The KEGG pathway classification and annotation of these unigenes identified 10,825 categorized into major metabolic pathways, notably phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, which is essential for lignan synthesis. A key focus was the identification and phylogenetic analysis of 233 Cytochrome P450 (CYP) genes, revealing their distribution across 38 families in eight clans, with roots showing specific CYP gene expression patterns indicative of their role in lignan biosynthesis. Sequence alignment identified 22 homologous single genes of these CYPs, with 6 homologous genes of CYP719As and 1 of CYP81Qs highly expressed in roots. Our study significantly advances the understanding of the biosynthesis of dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans, offering valuable insights for future pharmacological research and development.

Kadsura coccinea (Lem.) A. C. Smith is a significant tree species of non-timber forest. However, the low germination percentage and lengthy germination time of its seeds pose obstacles to industry development. Aiming at the problem of seed dormancy, this study first determined the seed dormancy period through seed germination test, and then comprehensively evaluated the dormancy characteristics by observing the seed coat structure, measuring endogenous inhibitors, and in vitro embryo culture. The results indicated the dormancy of K. coccinea seeds, and that the germination period was up to 80 days. Its seed coat is composed of exotesta and endotesta. The dense seed coat structure causes water absorption and air permeability obstacles to the seeds and causes mechanical restraint to the development of the embryo. Meanwhile, its seeds have substances that inhibit seed germination, and there are germination inhibitors in distilled water, methanol, petroleum ether, and ethyl acetate extracts of kernels and seed coats. The inhibitory activity of kernel petroleum ether extract was the highest, and the inhibitory activity of seed coat methanol extract was the highest. In addition, the embryo of K. coccinea developed completely and could germinate normally under in vitro conditions. This study has basically proved that the dormancy of K. coccinea seeds is caused by the seed coat (physical dormancy) and endogenous inhibitors (physiological dormancy), which provides a scientific theoretical basis to further explore the method of seed dormancy release of K. coccinea.

Xinjiang Ziziphus jujuba ‘Huizao’ wine, a characteristic fruit wine in China, is facing industrial bottlenecks such as flavor homogenization and lack of specialized fermentation yeasts, which limits its high-quality development. To solve these problems, four laboratory-preserved indigenous yeast strains (NZ5, NZ6, BH4, BH2) were compared with four commercial strains (FR, RW, RA, SY) in terms of fermentation dynamics, volatile flavor compound synthesis (HS-SPME-GC-MS/GC-FID), and sensory quality to screen the optimal yeast for Ziziphus jujuba ‘Huizao’ wine fermentation. Molecular identification revealed that NZ5 and NZ6 belong to Saccharomyces cerevisiae, while BH4 and BH2 are closely related to Pichia kudriavzevii, respectively, indicating their non-Saccharomyces characteristics with distinct metabolic potentials. The results showed that indigenous strains exhibited significantly superior performance to commercial strains: (1) Saccharomyces strains NZ5 and NZ6 had higher fermentation efficiency, with 12.5–25% shorter fermentation cycles and 14% higher cumulative CO₂ release than commercial strains; (2) Non-Saccharomyces strain BH4 synthesized the most diverse volatile flavors (99 compounds), with ethyl acetate content reaching 314.92 mg/L, which was 13-fold higher than that of commercial yeast FR (24.09 mg/L). Meanwhile, its phenethyl alcohol content reached 3.12 mg/L, 7.2 times that of commercial yeast RW; (3) Sensory evaluation showed that BH4-fermented wine had the highest score (88.59), significantly higher than commercial strains (63.57–67.67). In conclusion, BH4 is the optimal strain for improving the flavor quality of Xinjiang Ziziphus jujuba ‘Huizao’ wine, and NZ5/NZ6 are suitable for efficient industrial fermentation. This study provides valuable microbial resources and technical guidance for the quality improvement and industrial development of Xinjiang characteristic fruit wine.

Nai plum (Prunus salicina Lindl. var. cordata) is a high-value fruit crop in southern China, yet its post-harvest quality is often compromised by fruit browning, a major constraint to storage and marketability. Addressing this challenge requires a deeper understanding of the species’ reproductive biology, which underpins both fruit set and cultivar improvement. In this study, we characterized the flowering biological characteristics of Nai plum accessions introduced from Yanling and Liuyang (Hunan Province) and Shaoguan and Lechang (Guangdong Province). Using field observations combined with microscopic and submicroscopic techniques, we documented flowering phenology, flowering dynamics, floral organ traits, pollen viability and stigma receptivity. The flowering period was in March, lasting 26–28 d, and the group blooming period was divided into three stages: Initial opening stage, Full blooming stage, and Final flowering stage. The single-flower opening process was divided into eight stages. Pollen viability followed a unimodal curve, peaking at the petal flattening stage (PF) across all accessions, though peak values varied by provenances. Stigmas were of the wet type, with receptivity following a weak–strong–weak pattern; peak receptivity occurred at early flowering (EF) and PF in most accessions. The EF of Nai plum from Yangling (S1) lasted for 7 h, and PF lasts for 28 h. The EF of Nai plum from Yangling (S2) lasted for 3 h, and the PF lasted for 11 h. Both the EF and the PF of Nai plum from Shaoguan (S3) lasted for 14 h. The bud white stage (BW) of Nai plum from Lechang (S4) lasted for 6 h and the EF lasted for 7 h. The EF of Nai plum from Liuyang (S5) lasts for 7 h, and the PF lasted for 28 h. These findings clarify the reproductive phenology and floral biology of Nai plum, providing foundational knowledge that can inform breeding strategies and cultivation practices aimed at improving fruit set and, ultimately, post-harvest quality.

Embryo abortion is a major factor limiting hybrid breeding efficiency in jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.). To investigate whether the ABCG transporter gene Z

This study analyzed the phenotypic and internal fruit quality diversity of six superior Nai plum trees to provide detailed phenotypic profiles and preliminary relational hypotheses, supporting superior genotype re-selection for breeding. Using leaves and mature fruits, we conducted diversity, correlation, and principal component analysis (PCA) on all quantitative traits. The average Shannon–Wiener index (H′) for qualitative traits was 0.543, and the average coefficient of variation for quantitative traits was 19.98%. Correlation analysis revealed complex trait relationships, including the synchronous variation between the total number of soluble solids (TSS) and reducing sugars (RS) or soluble sugars (SS) and the opposite trends between the TSS and potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), or soluble protein (SP). PCA extracted four principal components (cumulative contribution: 91.074%) from all traits. Based on factor scores, S6 ranked highest, indicating its potential as a comprehensive candidate. The findings offer a theoretical basis for Nai plum cultivation and breeding.