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.

Phoebe bournei, a rare tree species native to China, holds considerable economic importance. The heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) family is a group of molecular chaperones that is broadly distributed across living organisms and play a critical role in processes like growth, development, and stress response. While Hsp70 genes have been identified and studied in various plant species, their specific functions in the growth and development of P. bournei remain unexplored. We performed a comprehensive analysis of the Hsp70 gene family in P. bournei, identifying a total of 45 Hsp70 genes, which were classified into four groups (I–IV) through phylogenetic analysis. All Hsp70 proteins possessed conserved structural domains, including motif 7, and introns were present in 77.8% of the genes. Chromosomal localization and collinearity analyses of the Hsp70 genes revealed their evolutionary relationships and potential gene duplication events. Examination of the cis-acting elements within the Hsp70 promoter regions revealed that the predominant elements were associated with growth and development, followed by those responsive to hormones, and then elements linked to abiotic stress. Nine genes with high expression were selected for RT-qPCR analysis. Under high-temperature stress, all nine genes were differentially upregulated, and most of these genes belonged to subfamilies II and III, indicating that these two subfamilies have strong potential for heat resistance. In this study, we have elucidated the molecular characteristics and heat response properties of the Hsp70 gene family in P. bournei, revealing the mechanisms behind its heat stress response. Our work provides a reference for stress breeding in P. bournei and a theoretical basis for the exploration of heat tolerance in woody plants.

Aristolochia minjiangyuanensis, a new species of Aristolochia subgen. Siphisia from Jianning County, Fujian Province, China, is described and illustrated. Morphologically, it differs in having usually narrower, narrowly ovate-cordate leaves with a long-acuminate or acute apex, a subobovate perianth limb with the lower lobe significantly longer than the upper two lobes and an unspotted inner surface, a smaller throat, and an indumentum predominantly composed of grayish-white velvety hairs. Phylogenetic analyses, based on the nuclear ribosomal ITS region (5.8S + ITS2) and the plastid trnK region, support the placement of A. minjiangyuanensis within the A. kaempferi group, while the trnK analysis further strongly supports a sister relationship between the new species and A. vestita. The new species can be distinguished from A. vestita by its subobovate perianth limb with a revolute apex and an inner surface without spots or stripes, subcircular throat, and predominantly grayish-white velvety indumentum. It differs from A. kaempferi mainly in the morphology and markings of the perianth limb and in having a cylindrical, velvety capsule.

Adventitious root formation in stem cuttings of Phoebe bournei, an economically and ecologically significant woody species, is a major bottleneck in clonal propagation. To elucidate the impact of spectral quality on early adventitious root development, we characterized the morphological, hormonal, and transcriptomic dynamics of primordium initiation and differentiation under white, red, and blue light. Under red light, cuttings exhibited the earliest and most pronounced formation of white filamentous structures at lenticels, indicative of root primordium initiation, as early as 20 days after cutting, whereas white and blue light treatments showed delayed responses. Paraffin section analysis confirmed the induced origin of root primordia from cortical and vascular cambial tissues, with red light accelerating their differentiation. Hormonal profiling revealed that although red and blue light transiently increased indole-3-acetic acid levels in the basal bark, the persistently elevated abscisic acid in apical buds across all treatments likely suppressed polar auxin transport. Notably, red light downregulated brassinosteroid and gibberellin levels in the base, which could alleviate growth inhibition. Transcriptome analysis of phloem tissues identified significant differential expression of auxin-responsive genes, including members of the ARF (e.g., PbARF6, PbARF13), GH3, and SAUR gene families, which were specifically upregulated under red light. Collectively, our findings suggest that red light accelerates the early induction and differentiation of adventitious root primordia in P. bournei cuttings by modulating hormonal homeostasis and activating key auxin signaling pathways. This work provides a physiological and molecular basis for optimizing light conditions in the vegetative propagation of P. bournei.