The heat shock transcription factors (HSFs) family is widely present in eukaryotes including plants. Recent studies have indicated that HSF is a multifunctional group of genes involved in plant growth and development, as well as response to abiotic stresses. Here we combined the bioinformatic, molecular biology way to dissect the function of Hsf, specifically HsfB4 in wheat under abiotic stresses. In this study, we identified 78 TaHSF genes in wheat (Triticum aestivum) and analyzed their phylogenetic relationship and expression regulation motifs. Next, the expression profiles of TaHSFs and AtHSFs were analyzed in different tissues as well as in response to abiotic stress. Furthermore, to explore the role of HSFB4 in abiotic stress response, we cloned TaHSFB4-2B from the wheat variety, Chinese Spring. Subcellular localization analysis showed that TaHSFB4-2B was localized in the nucleus. In addition, We observed TaHSFB4-2B was highly expressed in the root and stem, its transcription was induced under long-term heat shock, cold, and salinity stress. Additionally, overexpression of TaHSFB4-2B suppressed seed germination and growth in Arabidopsis with salinity and mannitol treatment. It also modulated the expression of stress-responsive genes, including AtHSP17.8, AtHSP17.6A, AtHSP17.6C, CAT2, and SOS1, under both normal and stress conditions. From these finding, we propose that TaHSFB4-2B act as a negative regulator of abiotic stress response in the plant.

Background: The aim of the present review is to provide basic knowledge regarding the treatment of Coronavirus via medicinal plants. Coronavirus (COVID-19, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV) as a viral pneumonia causative agent, has infected thousands of people in China and worldwide. Currently, there is no specific medicine or vaccine available that can treat or prevent this virus and this has posed a severe threat to human health; therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a novel drug or anticoronavirus vaccine. However, natural compounds to treat coronaviruses are the most effective alternative and complementary therapies due to their diverse range of biological and therapeutic properties. Methods: We performed an open-ended, English restricted search of Scopus database, Web of Science, and Pubmed for all available literature from Jan-March, 2020, using terms related to phytochemical compounds, medicinal plants and coronavirus. Results: The view on anti-coronavirus (anti-CoV) activity in the plant-derived phytochemicals and medicinal plants gives a strong base to develop a novel treatment employing these compounds for coronavirus. Various phytochemicals and medicinal plant extracts have been revised and are considered as potential anti-CoV agents for effective control of the virus and future drug development. Herein, we discuss some important plants (Scutellaria baicalensis, Psorothamnus arborescens, Glycyrrhiza radix, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Lycoris radiate, Phyllanthus emblica, Camellia sinensis, Hyptis atrorubens Poit, Fraxinus sieboldiana, Erigeron breviscapus, Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, Amaranthus tricolor, Phaseolus vulgaris, Rheum palmatum, Curcuma longa and Myrica cerifera) that have emerged to have broad-spectrum antiviral activity. Conclusion: Nigella sativa has potent anti-SARS-CoV activity and it might be a useful source for developing novel antiviral therapies for coronavirus.

Galinsoga parviflora is an invasive weed in southwest of Chinese agricultural systems and commonly used as medicine and food. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome of the G. parviflora was assembled from the whole genome Illumina sequencing data. The circular genome is 151,811 bp in size, which composed of one large single-copy (LSC) and one small single-copy (SSC) regions of 83,594 bp and 18,141 bp, respectively, and separated by a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions of 25,038 bp each. It encodes a total of 113 gene species (80 protein-coding, 29 tRNA, and four rRNA species), in which 19 of them with double copies. The overall GC content is 37.7% while the GC content of the LSC, SSC, and IR regions are 35.8%, 31.3%, and 43.1%, separately. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that Galinsoga parviflora was closely related to Galinsoga quadriradiata.

The complete chloroplast genome of Aesculus chinensis was obtained with Illumina HiSeq X Ten. The chloroplast genome is 155,528 bp in length, including a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions of 25,656 bp, a large single-copy (LSC) region of 85,489 bp, and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,727 bp. It contains 115 genes, including 80 protein-coding genes, 31 transfer RNAs, and four ribosomal RNAs. The total GC content is 37.9%, whereas the corresponding values of the LSC, SSC, and IR regions are 36.1%, 31.8%, and 43.2%, separately. Phylogenetic analysis of the protein-coding genes showed a close relationship with Aesculus wangii in Hippocastanaceae.

Pyrabactin resistance 1-like proteins (PYLs) are direct receptors of abscisic acid (ABA). For the redundant and polymorphic functions, some members of the PYL family interact with components of other signaling pathways. Here, 253 positive colonies from a maize cDNA library were screened as interacting proteins with the members of ZmPYL family. After sequencing and function annotation, 17 of 28 interaction combinations were verified by yeast two-hybrid (Y2H). The germination potential, taproot length and proline content of a quartet mutant of Arabidopsis PYL genes were significantly deceased comparing to the wild type (WT) under alkaline stress (pH 8.5) and 100 µmol L⁻¹ methyl jasmonate (MeJA) induction. The malondialdehyde (MDA) content was significantly increased. After germinating in darkness, the characteristics of dark morphogenesis of the quartet mutant seedlings were more obvious than those of the WT. The differential expression of the related genes of photomorphogenesis in the mutant was much more than that in the WT. Three light and two JA responsive cis-affecting elements were identified during the promoter sequences of the AtPYL1 and AtPYL2 genes. These results suggested that functional polymorphism has evolved among the members of ZmPYL family. In response to developmental and environmental stimuli, they not only function as direct ABA receptors but also interact with components of other signaling pathways mediated JA, brassinosteroid (BR), auxin, etc., and even directly regulate downstream stress-related proteins. These signaling pathways can interact at various crosstalk points and different levels of gene expression within a sophisticated network.

The genus Ophiorrhiza Linnaeus (1751: 150) (Ophiorrhizeae, Rubioideae, Rubiaceae) comprises of ca. 318 taxa in tropical and tropical subtropical Asia, extending to Australia, New Guinea and the Pacific Islands (Darwin 1976, Chen & Taylor 2011, Bremer & Manen 2000), with its greatest diversity in southeastern Asia (Davis et al. 2009, Hareesh 2017, Hareesh & Sabu 2018). The genus has been revised taxonomically in some geographic regions such as Australia (Halford 1991), China (Lo 1990, Chen & Taylor 2011), India (Deb & Mondal 1997, Hooker 1880, Hareesh & Sabu 2018) and the Pacific (Darwin 1976). In the Flora of China, 73 species were reported, in which 47 species are endemic (Chen & Taylor 2011, Yang et al. 2018, Tu et al. 2018, Wu et al. 2017, 2018, Duan et al. 2019) and mainly occurring in southwestern region of China, commonly growing on humid slopes or along valleys under dense forest (Lo 1999, Yang et al. 2018). Generally, Ophiorrhiza species are annual to perennial suffrutescent herbs or small shrubs with cymose inflorescences. Fruit capsules are broadly obcordate, laterally flattened, papery, dry and usually dehiscent loculicidal (Lo 1990, Deb & Mondal 1997, Chen & Taylor 2011, Hareesh 2017, Wu et al. 2018). The Ophiorrhiza species (O. mungos L. (1753: 150), O. mungos L. var. angustifolia (Thwaites) Hook.f. (1880: 77), and O. rugosa Wall. (1824: 547) var. decumbens (Gardner ex Thwaites) Deb & Mondal (1983: 228)) are commercially important as source of Camptothecin (CPT), a potent anticancer drug as well as antiviral and antimicrobial properties (Rajan et al. 2016, Taher et al. 2020).