Michelia crassipes is a great ornamental plant, the flowers of which have high economic value. In this study, we employed headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS–SPME) combined with gas chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC–HRMS) for the first time to identify the volatile compounds emitted from different organs of M. crassipes flowers at different flowering stages. M. crassipes flower odor comprises 69 volatile compounds that are dominated by terpenes constituting 84% of collected volatiles. It was found that α-guaiene, β-caryophyllene and germacrene B had the highest relative amounts, while ethyl 3-methyl valerate, methyl benzoate and β-damascone had the highest odor activity values (OAVs). This contributed to the complex fruity, woody and floral aromas of M. crassipes. Total odor emission increased along the flower blooming, which was most abundant in the pistil followed by tepals and stamens. Paraffin sections of M. crassipes flower organs showed the highest density of oil secretory cells in the pistil at the full flowering stage, which was positively correlated with total odor release. The scent of the pistil and tepals was characterized by terpenes, whereas stamens was characterized by benzenoids. We suggest that the benzenoids in stamens might contribute to pollinator attraction in M. crassipes.

Zelkova schneideriana Hand.-Mazz. is a high-value plant used for hardwood timber production in China. Because of over-harvesting and limited numbers of seedlings for plantations, Z. schneideriana has become an endangered species in China. To grow this plant sustainably, we generated a protocol to reproduce this species using tissue culture. Leaf explants were cultured on Wood Plant Medium (WPM), Murashige and Skoog (MS), 1/2MS (main elements), or B5 media variously supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine (BA), naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), or 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) to induce callus, adventitious shoots, and rooting. WPM was the most effective medium for callus induction and resulted in two types of calli from leaf explants. One was soft and straw-yellow coloured on WPM containing 0.45, 4.54, 9.08, or 13.62 µM 2,4-D or on WPM supplemented with 4.44 µM BA in combination with 0.45 or 4.54 µM 2,4-D. The other callus type was friable and green on WPM supplemented with 0.44, 4.44, 8.88, or 13.32 µM BA or on WPM supplemented with 4.44 µM BA in combination with 0.54 or 5.37 µM NAA. Only the latter callus type was observed to regenerate plantlets. WPM supplemented with 4.44 µM BA plus 2.68 µM NAA had a 64.5% shooting rate, with 6.75 shoots per callus. Rooting at 70.0%, with an average of 3.6 roots per shoot, was obtained on WPM supplemented with 2.46 µM IBA in combination with 2.0 g l⁻¹ activated charcoal (AC). In total, 86% of regenerated Z. schneideriana plantlets survived after acclimation in a greenhouse at 24° ± 2°C under a 16 h photoperiod provided by cool-white fluorescent lights (PPFD = 65.5 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹), and 100% survived after transplanting to an experimental field plot.

Lagerstroemia is a genus with a wide geographical range extending from Southeast Asia to Australia, and it plays a significant role in many aspects of urban life, including supporting ecosystems, beautifying cities, and affecting human health. To gain insights into the current state of Lagerstroemia research, a bibliometric analysis was conducted using 138 publications from the Web of Science core database between 2002 and 2022. The analysis involved co-occurrence analyses of authors’ affiliated institutions, a keyword co-occurrence analysis, and a timeline view of keywords. The results of the analysis revealed three stages of Lagerstroemia research: the initial stage (2002–04); the rapid growth stage (2005–13); and the in-depth stage (2014–present). Furthermore, 335 keywords from 10 clusters were identified, which indicated that genetic diversity, breeding, and landscape utilization were the three main research areas of Lagerstroemia . Collaboration among authors mainly occurred within major natural and cultivated regions, such as China and the United States. Based on the bibliometric evaluation, future research of Lagerstroemia should focus on areas such as whole-genome sequencing, male sterility problems, resistance, ornamental characteristics, and landscape utilization guidelines. The findings of this study provide an important reference for further studies and can guide the development, innovation, and application of Lagerstroemia .

"New Zelkova schneideriana Hand.-Mazz. Cultivar Gold Goblin" published on Mar 2022 by American Society for Horticultural Science.

Zelkova sinica Schneid. is a popular landscape plant in China because of its wide adaptation, strong disease resistance, large crown, and beautiful fall color. Immature embryos from Z. sinica seeds were cultured on woody plant medium (WPM) supplemented with 4.5 μM 6-Benzylaminopurine (BA) and 5.4 μM α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) to induce callus, and 60% of immature embryos formed callus. The cream-white, friable, nodular callus with proembryogenic structures was then cultured on WPM containing 5.4 μM NAA in combination with 9.0 or 11.2 μM BA to regenerate shoots; approximately five shoots per explant were induced on 70% callus. Shoots were rooted on WPM containing 0.5 μM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), on which 62.3% shoots developed roots with an average of 4.2 roots per shoot at 4 weeks. The regenerated plantlets were acclimatized and transplanted into the field. This protocol could be used for mass production for field plantation, genetic improvement, and germplasm exchange of Z. sinica .

"A New Magnolia Cultivar Red Elegance" published on Jan 2023 by American Society for Horticultural Science.