Background: In Amomum tsaoko breeding, the low germination rate is the major limitation for their large-scale reproduction. We found that warm stratification was an effective treatment to break the seed dormancy of A. tsaoko prior to sowing and could be an important component of improving breeding programs. The mechanism of seed dormancy release during warm stratification remains unclear. Therefore, we studied the differences between transcripts and proteomes at 0, 30, 60, and 90 days of warm stratification, to identify some regulatory genes and functional proteins that may cause seed dormancy release in A. tsaoko and reveal their regulatory mechanism. Results: RNA-seq was performed for the seed dormancy release process, and the number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was 3196 in three dormancy release periods. Using TMT-labelling quantitative proteome analysis, a total of 1414 proteins were defined as differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). Functional enrichment analyses revealed that the DEGs and DEPs were mainly involved in signal transduction pathways (MAPK signaling, hormone) and metabolism processes (cell wall, storage and energy reserves), suggesting that these differentially expressed genes and proteins are somehow involved in response to seed dormancy release process, including MAPK, PYR/PYL, PP2C, GID1, GH3, ARF, AUX/IAA, TPS, SPS, and SS. In addition, transcription factors ARF, bHLH, bZIP, MYB, SBP, and WRKY showed differential expression during the warm stratification stage, which may relate to dormancy release. Noteworthy, XTH, EXP, HSP and ASPG proteins may be involved in a complex network to regulate cell division and differentiation, chilling response and the seed germination status in A. tsaoko seed during warm stratification. Conclusion: Our transcriptomic and proteomic analysis highlighted specific genes and proteins that warrant further study in fully grasping the precise molecular mechanisms that control the seed dormancy and germination of A. tsaoko. A hypothetical model of the genetic regulatory network provides a theoretical basis for overcoming the physiological dormancy in A. tsaoko in the future.

Ophiopogon sclerophyllus is described and illustrated as a new species from northwestern Guangxi, China. The new species can be distinguished from other Ophiopogon species by its roots with fusiform or oblong tubercles near middle or tip, thickly leathery leaf blade, widely opening flowers with recurved perianth segments. The relationships among O. sclerophyllus, O. pseudotonkinensis and O. petraeus are shortly discussed.

Gynostemma verrucosum, a new species discovered in northwestern Guangxi, China, is described and illustrated. This new species is similar to G. compressum in having obtriangular capsules and is clearly distinguished from the latter by its unique verrucose stems, puberulent at the nodes, leaves usually 9-foliolate, capsules more than 1 cm in width, large seeds with surface spiniform-tuberculate and margin serrate and sulcate.