Background: The cactus family (Cactaceae) has been reported to have evolved a minimal photosynthetic plastome size, with the loss of inverted-repeat (IR) regions and NDH gene suites. However, there are very limited genomic data on the family, especially Cereoideae, the largest subfamily of cacti.Results: In the present study, we assembled and annotated 35 plastomes, 33 of which were representatives of Cereoideae, alongside 2 previously published plastomes. We analyzed the organelle genomes of 35 genera in the subfamily. These plastomes have variations rarely observed in those of other angiosperms, including size differences (with ~ 30 kb between the shortest and longest), dramatic dynamic changes in IR boundaries, frequent plastome inversions, and rearrangements. These results suggested that cacti have the most complex plastome evolution among angiosperms.Conclusion: These results provide unique insight into the dynamic evolutionary history of Cereoideae plastomes and refine current knowledge of the relationships within the subfamily.

Santalum album L. is an evergreen tree which is mainly distributes throughout tropical and temperate regions. And it has a great medicinal and economic value. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of S. album were assembled and annotated, which could be described by a complex branched structure consisting of three contigs. The lengths of these three contigs are 165,122 bp, 93,430 bp and 92,491 bp. We annotated 34 genes coding for proteins (PCGs), 26 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes. The analysis of repeated elements shows that there are 89 SSRs and 242 pairs of dispersed repeats in S. album mitochondrial genome. Also we found 20 MTPTs among the chloroplast and mitochondria. The 20 MTPTs sequences span a combined length of 22,353 bp, making up 15.52 % of the plastome, 6.37 % of the mitochondrial genome. Additionally, by using the Deepred-mt tool, we found 628 RNA editing sites in 34 PCGs. Moreover, significant genomic rearrangement is observed between S. album and its associated mitochondrial genomes. Finally, based on mitochondrial genome PCGs, we deduced the phylogenetic ties between S. album and other angiosperms. We reported the mitochondrial genome from Santalales for the first time, which provides a crucial genetic resource for our study of the evolution of mitochondrial genome.

Thuja sutchuenensis Franch., an endangered species sparsely distributed in the mountainous and arid regions of southwest China, faces the critical challenge of adapting to these harsh conditions. Understanding the plant’s strategies for survival and the precise roles played by soil fungal communities in this adaptation remains an area of limited knowledge. Our investigation centers on the fungal communities associated with T. sutchuenensis and their interactions with soil water content. Notably, we identified unique fungal communities in the low soil moisture group, and these communities exhibited lower coverage but higher phylogenetic diversity (PD), Chao1, and Shannon indices compared to other groups. Network analysis revealed a modular structure within the fungal communities, with key hub nodes identified, particularly in the arid group. This group demonstrated higher levels of soil saprotrophs and ectomycorrhizal fungi and a reduced presence of plant pathogens. Linear discriminant analysis highlighted the significance of genera such as Russula, Myxotrichaceae, and Sebacina, emphasizing their roles in supporting the plant in arid environments. Random forest analysis indicated that soil moisture content emerged as the primary driver in determining fungal composition and diversity and contributed to the variables of several fungal genera. Collectively, this study provides valuable insights into the fungal communities associated with T. sutchuenensis, shedding light on their adaptation to extreme arid conditions.

With the expansion of cities and the development of industries, heavy metal pollution has caused a serious negative impact on the growth and development of animals and plants, which has become a global economic and social problem. Cadmium (Cd) is one of the main heavy metals that threaten the growth and development of plants, and it can lead to the imminent extinction of plants in severe cases. The part of upper reaches of the Yangtze River in China from Yibin to the Three Gorges Reservoir has been contaminated with varying degrees of Cd, and a rare and endangered plant called Myricaria laxiflora also lives in this area. The stress of heavy metal Cd on M. laxiflora populations is still unknown. In this study, we used the seedlings of M. laxiflora as materials, and adopted conventional physiological and biochemical analyses to characterize the morphological and physiological responses of M. laxiflora under different concentrations of Cd, and analyzed its response to Cd stress at the transcriptional level. The results showed that the wild population of M. laxiflora was stressed by the heavy metal Cd. High concentrations of Cd can inhibit the growth of M. laxiflora. M. laxiflora responded to the Cd stress through resistance substances such as malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and phytohormones such as auxin (IAA), gibberellin (GA) and abscisic acid (ABA). Transcriptome analysis was carried out on M. lasiflora seedlings exposed to 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h of Cd stress. Compared with 0 h (control), 2470, 11,707, and 11,733 differential expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, respectively. Among them, the number of down-regulated genes is more than the number of up-regulated genes. Transcriptome analysis showed that the upregulated genes were mainly enriched in MAPK signaling pathway, ethylene-induced pathway, ABA response pathway and other pathways, and the downregulated genes were mainly enriched in photosynthesis related pathways. Cd stress affected photosynthesis of M. laxiflora, and M. laxiflora may activate the MAPK signaling pathway through ethylene and ABA to improve the ability of Cd stress tolerance. These results reveal morphological changes, physiological and biochemical reactions and related key response pathways of M. laxiflora during Cd stress. It can provide a reference basis for habitat restoration and selection of wildlife environments for M. laxiflora.

Scutellaria wushanensis (Lamiaceae), found in the broad-leaf forest of Chongqing Wulipo National Nature Reserve, Chongqing, China, is described and illustrated as a new species after comparing it with related species. The new species shares a similar leaf shape and inflorescence morphology with Scutellaria lotienensis. However, the new species can be clearly distinguished from Scutellaria lotienensis by the bract shape, the pubescence inside the corolla, the hairless filaments, and the posterior corolla lobe shape and the purple-red patches.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by dysregulated immunity, skin barrier dysfunction, and cutaneous microbiome dysbiosis. While current therapies face limitations, Thuja sutchuenensis essential oil (TEO) shows promise due to its multi-target potential. We sought to explore the beneficial effects of TEO and delve into its mechanistic actions in a mouse model of AD. We combined network pharmacology with in vivo validation to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and mechanisms of TEO in an AD model, and confirmed network-predicted targets in an in vitro inflammatory cell model. In AD mice, TEO alleviated pruritus and epidermal hyperplasia, suppressed systemic IL-4/TNF-α and IgE, and partially normalized serum ALB, LDL-C, and HDL-C. Microbial diversity increased after treatment, although potentially pathogenic taxa (Arthrobacter sp. and Corynebacterium mastitidis) remained enriched. Machine-learning analysis indicated the highest predicted metabolic activity in CK controls, whereas the AD and TEO groups showed elevated pathogenic phenotype scores. Network pharmacology prioritized active compounds [(E)-ligustilide, senkyunolide A, 3-butylisobenzofuran-1(3H)-one, butylated hydroxytoluene, Z-buthlidenephthalide, and β-Myrcene] and core targets (TNF, PTPRC, CCR5, JAK1), implicating T-cell receptor signaling, Staphylococcus aureus infection, and STAT3 pathways. Docking and molecular dynamics supported strong, stable binding of major constituents to JAK1, and Western blotting confirmed TEO-mediated inhibition of the JAK1/STAT3 axis. TEO effectively alleviates atopic dermatitis symptoms by modulating immune responses and enhancing microbial diversity. It targets key signaling pathways, such as JAK1/STAT3, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic option for AD.