The GATA transcription factors are a class of DNA-binding proteins that control the expression of target genes by binding to the promoter regions of DNA, thereby affecting the growth and development of plants. In recent years, GATA genes have been discovered and functionally characterized in many plant species. However, there is limited annotation information for GATA genes in the genus Acorus. This study identified 38 and 20 GATA genes in Acorus calamus and A. gramineus, respectively. Based on a phylogenetic tree, they were classified into four subfamilies (I, II, III, and IV). At the same time, an analysis of the GATA domain and motifs revealed that the domains are relatively conserved across all subfamilies. A multiple sequence alignment showed that almost all GATA proteins are highly conserved at the LCNACG site. An analysis of cis-elements, collinearity, and protein–protein interaction networks provided insights into the response mechanisms under biotic stress. Additionally, we found significant changes in the expression of GATA in A. gramineus under drought and salt stress. These results provide useful information for future functional analyses of GATA genes and contribute to a better understanding of the stress response mechanisms and molecular breeding directions in the Acorus species.

After examining morphological, molecular and genome-size evidence, we here describe a new orchid species, Apostasia fujianica, from Fujian, China. Morphological comparisons indicated that A. fujianica is similar to A. shenzhenica and A. nipponica, whereas the former displayed distinct differences in habit, roots, leaves, inflorescences and fruit shape and size. Apostasia fujianica (341 Mb) has a smaller genome size than A. shenzhenica (471 Mb), A. ramifera (366 Mb) and A. fogangica (931 Mb). Molecular analyses from combined nuclear (ITS, Xdh, naD1) and plastid (matK, rbcL, psbA-trnH, trnL-trnF and trnS-trnG) datasets indicated that A. fujianica is sister to A. shenzhenica. These results support the status of A. fujianica as a new species, distinguished in many aspects from A. shenzhenica, A. ramifera and A. nipponica.

We here describe and illustrate a new species, Impatiens fujianensis (Balsaminaceae), from Fujian Province in southern China. Morphological comparisons indicated that I. fujianensis is similar to I. noli-tangere and I. yilingiana but showed distinct differences in leaves, inflorescences, pedicels and flowers. The molecular phylogenetic analysis based on nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and two plastid regions (atpB-rbcL and trnL-F) indicated that I. fujianensis is a distinct species, which forms an independent lineage. Both morphological and molecular evidence supported the status of I. fujianensis as a new species.

Luisia, a genus of the subtribe Aeridinae of Orchidaceae, comprises ca. 40 species. Members of Luisia exhibit unique morphological characteristics and represent a valuable ornamental orchid genus. However, due to the scarcity of distinct morphological characters, species identification within this genus is ambiguous and controversial. In the present study, next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods were used to assemble the plastomes of five Luisia species and compare them with one publicly available Luisia plastid genome data. The plastomes of Luisia possessed a quadripartite structure, with sizes ranging from 146,243 bp to 147,430 bp. The plastomes of six Luisia species contained a total of 120 genes, comprising 74 protein-coding genes, 38 tRNA genes and eight rRNA genes. Notably, all ndh genes were pseudogenized or lost. An analysis of codon usage bias showed that leucine (Leu) exhibited the highest frequency, while cysteine (Cys) exhibited the lowest frequency. A total of 57 to 64 SSRs and 42 to 49 long repeats were identified. Five regions and five coding sequences were identified for DNA barcodes, based on the nucleotide diversity (Pi) analysis. The species of Luisia constituted a monophyletic group and were sister to Paraphalaenopsis with strong support. Our study deepens the understanding of species identification, plastome evolution and the phylogenetic positions of Luisia.

A new species of Anacardiaceae, Toxicodendron oligophyllum S. L. Tang, Liang Ma & S. P. Chen, from eastern Fujian Province, China, is described and illustrated. Morphologically, the leaf of T. oligophyllum includes only 3–5 leaflets which is the least number in all known species of Toxicodendron. Additionally, the length of inflorescence equal to which of the leaf can also be used as a well diagnostic characters to distinguish the new species from the other Toxicodendron. The phylogeny of Toxicodendron using the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) and chloroplast (trnL-F) sequences was reconstructed. The result showed the new species is sister to T. sylvestre (Sieb. & Zucc.) Kuntze.

Acorales comprises the basal lineage of all extant monocots and has important linkage to early angiosperms and dicots. In this study, we reported the complete chloroplast genome of Acorus calamus, one of the two species of Acorales. The whole genome was 152,876 bp in length, consisting of a pair of inverted repeats (IR 25,661 bp), a large single-copy region (LSC 83,290 bp), and a small single-copy region (SSC 18,264 bp). The complete genome contained 129 genes, including 84 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA, and 8 rRNA genes. The overall GC content of the whole genome was 38.7%. A maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analysis showed that A. calamus is sister to A. calamus which was collected in Germany. The complete chloroplast genome of A. calamus will help improve and integrate the existing genome data of monocots and provide insights into the phylogenetic relationship among basal angiosperms, monocots and dicots.