This study aimed to explore the anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activities of extracts from different parts of plants in the Zingiberaceae family. The inhibitory rate, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of leaf and stem, and root and rhizome extracts from Alpinia katsumadai Hayata, Alpinia oxyphylla Miq × Alpinia henryi K. Schumann, Alpinia oblongifolia Hayata, Alpinia nigra (Gaertn.) Burtt, Amomum villosum Lour, Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) Burtt. et Smith and Alpinia oxyphylla Miq were determined using the fungus cake method and double dilution method. The seven Zingiberaceae plants exhibited characteristic antibacterial activities against pathogenic bacteria and fungi. At a 1.5 mg mL−1, A. zerumbet root and rhizome extracts exhibited strong inhibitory activity against S. aureus and E. coli, with 83.23% and 79.62%, respectively. In addition, A. zerumbet leaf and stem extracts had an inhibitory rate of 90.85% against P. aeruginosa. At the same concentration, the leaf and stem, root and rhizome extracts of A. katsumadai had the best antibacterial effect against F. oxysporum, with inhibition rates of 84.46% and 84.73%, respectively. Moreover, A. katsumadai and A. zerumbet leaf and stem extracts had the most significant antibacterial effect against S. aureus, with a MIC of 0.063 mg mL−1 . Thus, both A. katsumadai and A. zerumbet extracts had significant antibacterial activity. In addition, by comparing the inhibitory effect of extracts from different parts, it was found that the inhibitory rate and average inhibitory rate of extracts from leaf and stem were higher than those from root and rhizome. The chemical constituents of A. katsumadai and A. zerumbet, determined by the high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), revealed that citric acid (CA), alpinetin, and pinocembrin (PNCB) were the functional constituents yielding the antibacterial activity. Overall, A. katsumadai and A. zerumbet have the potential to be developed as new plant fungicides and bactericides.

Liquidambar formosana Hance is a pinene-rich deciduous plant species in the Altingiaceae family that is used as a medicinal plant in China. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying α-pinene and β-pinene biosynthesis in L. formosana leaves remain unknown. Here, a joint analysis of the volatile compounds and transcriptomes of L. formosana leaves was performed to comprehensively explore the terpene synthase (TPS) that may participate in α-pinene and β-pinene biosynthesis. Headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) jointly detected volatile L. formosana leaves. Trees with high and low levels of both α-pinene and β-pinene were defined as the H group and L group, respectively. RNA sequencing data revealed that DXR (1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase), HDS [(E)-4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-eny-l-diphosphate synthase], and TPS may be the major regulators of monoterpenoid biosynthesis. We identified three TPSs (LfTPS1, LfTPS2, and LfTPS3), which are highly homologous to α-pinene and β-pinene synthases of other species in phylogenetic analysis. Four TPS genes (LfTPS1, LfTPS2, LfTPS4, LfTPS5) may be critically involved in the biosynthesis and regulation of α-pinene and β-pinene in L. formosana. Bioinformatic and transcriptomic results were verified using quantitative real-time PCR. We identified LfTPS1, LfTPS2 as candidate genes for α-pinene and β-pinene biosynthesis that significantly improve the yield of beneficial terpenoids.

Closely-related plant groups with distinct microbiomes, chemistries and ecological characteristics represent tractable models to explore mechanisms shaping species spread, competitive dynamics and community assembly at the interface of native and introduced ranges. We investigated phyllosphere microbial communities, volatile organic compound (VOC) compositions, and potential interactions among introduced S. trilobata, native S. calendulacea and their hybrid in South China. S. trilobata exhibited higher α diversity but significantly different community composition compared to the native and hybrid groups. However, S. calendulacea and the hybrid shared certain microbial taxa, suggesting potential gene flow or co-existence. The potent antimicrobial VOC profile of S. trilobata, including unique compounds like p-cymene (13.33%), likely contributes to its invasion success. The hybrid’s intermediate microbial and VOC profiles suggest possible consequences for species distribution, genetic exchange, and community assembly in heterogeneous environments. This hybrid deserves further study as both an opportunity for and threat to diversity maintenance. These differentiating yet connected plant groups provide insight into ecological and evolutionary dynamics shaping microbiome structure, species co-occurrence and competitive outcomes during biological exchange and habitat transformation. An interdisciplinary approach combining chemical and microbial ecology may reveal mechanisms underlying community stability and change, informing management of species spread in a globalized world.