To map important ESTs to specific chromosomes and (or) chromosomal regions is difficult in hexaploid wheat because of its large genome size and serious interference of homoeologous sequences. Large-scale EST sequencing and subsequent chromosome localization are both laborious and time-consuming. The wheat alien addition line TAi-27 contains a pair of chromosomes of Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth & D.R. Dewey that carry the resistance gene against barley yellow dwarf virus. In this research, we developed a modified technique based on chromosome microdissection and hybridization-specific amplification to isolate expressed sequences from the alien chromosome of TAi-27 by hybridization between the DNA of the microdissected alien chromosome and cDNA of Th. intermedium infected by barley yellow dwarf virus. Twelve clones were selected, sequenced, and analyzed. Three of them were unknown genes without any hit in the GenBank database and the other nine were highly homologous with ESTs of wheat, barley, and (or) other plants in Gramineae induced by abiotic or biotic stress. The method used in this research to isolate expressed sequences from a specific chromosome has the following advantages: (i) the obtained expressed sequences are larger in size and have 3′ end information and (ii) the operation is less complicated. It would be an efficient improved method for genomics and functional genomics research of polyploid plants, especially for EST development and mapping. The obtained expressed sequence data are also informative in understanding the resistance genes on the alien chromosome of TAi-27.

The alien addition line TAI-27 contains a pair of chromosomes of Thinopyrum intermedium that carry resistance against barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV). A subtractive library was constructed using the leaves of TAI-27, which were infected by Schizaphis graminum carrying the GAV strain of BYDV, and the control at the three-leaf stage. Nine differentially expressed genes were identified from 100 randomly picked clones and sequenced. Two of the nine clones were highly homologous with known genes. Of the remaining seven cDNA clones, five clones matched with known expressed sequence tag (EST) sequences from wheat and (or) barley whereas the other two clones were unknown. Five of the nine differentially expressed sequences (WTJ9, WTJ11, WTJ15, WTJ19, and WTJ32) were highly homologous (identities >94%) with ESTs from wheat or barley challenged with pathogens. These five sequences and another one (WTJ18) were also highly homologous (identities >86%) with abiotic stress induced ESTs in wheat or barley. Reverse Northern hybridization showed that seven of the nine differentially expressed cDNA sequences hybridized with cDNA of T. intermedium infected by BYDV. Three of these also hybridized with cDNA of line 3B-2 (a parent of TAI-27) infected by BYDV. The alien chromosome in TAI-27 was microdissected. The second round linker adaptor mediated PCR products of the alien chromosomal DNA were labeled with digoxygenin and used as the probe to hybridize with the nine differentially expressed genes. The analysis showed that seven differentially expressed genes were homologous with the alien chromosome of TAI-27. These seven differentially expressed sequences could be used as ESTs of the alien chromosome of TAI-27. This research laid the foundation for screening and cloning of new specific functional genes conferring resistance to BYDV and probably other pathogens.

Oreocharis oriolus, a new species of Gesneriaceae in a sclerophyllous oak community from Yunnan, Southwest China, is described and illustrated. Morphologically, it resembles both O. forrestii and O. georgei, while it is distinct in combined characters of wrinkled leaves, peduncle and pedicel covered with whitish and egladular villous hairs, bract lanceolate and nearly glabrescent adaxially, and staminode absent. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) and chloroplast DNA fragment (trnL‐F) of 61 congeneric species also supported O. oriolus as a new species while it was nested with O. delavayi. It was currently assessed as ‘Critically Endangered’ (CR) regarding to its small‐sized population and narrow distribution following the IUCN categories and criteria.

Given the importance of net primary productivity (NPP) as an indicator of ecosystem productivity and its role in the global carbon cycle, understanding the factors that influence its stability can greatly improve our understanding of shrubland ecosystems and their response to global change. Between 2015 and 2022, we visited most of the primary shrubland in China and surveyed 751 shrubland patches. We collected data on community structure (canopy cover), shrub and herb species diversity, and soil physicochemical properties (soil nitrogen content and soil phosphorus content). We also used remote sensing data to obtain NPP from 2001 to 2022. We quantified temporal trends in shrubland stability in China and used structural equation modeling to disentangle the direct and indirect effects of climate, soil, and shrub community structural properties. We found that 85.3% of China’s shrublands remained stable in terms of productivity from 2001 to 2022, 10.6% of the shrublands increased in stability, and 4.1% of the shrublands need to be alerted to a significant decrease in stability. These changes in stability were mainly related to precipitation changes. We found that changes in precipitation directly affected the stability of net productivity and also indirectly through changes in shrub cover and species richness. Some aspects of community structure moderated these effects. We further found that the portion of shrubland with an upward trend in stability did not have a significant correlation between the stability of net primary productivity and community structure and soil N. Instead, soil phosphorus was the largest direct influence.

A small population of Euonymus aquifolium (Celastraceae) with flowering plants was discovered more than 100 kilometers away from its type locality. The incomplete original description of this species is supplemented here with floral materials since it is known from only two gatherings of fruiting specimens. Its 5-merous flowers and two ovules per locule support its position in Euonymus, and this inference is further reinforced by phylogenetic analysis based on the nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of rDNA. The specific epithet has long been treated as “aquifolius” to agree with the generic gender of Euonymus. But after examination of the protologues of this and other related species described simultaneously by the same authors, as well as their handwritten annotations attached on the type specimens, we conclude that the epithet aquifolium was used as a noun and it should be retained unchanged. Despite this newly discovered population some 100 kilometers away from its type locality, this species is still assessed as Critical Endangered (CR) according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.

The establishment of native species‐dominated forest parks and investment into vegetation surveys and taxonomic research has not only enabled the discovery of relictnative species affected by urban expansion but also facilitated targeted conservation efforts. During investigations on plant diversity and vegetation status in Longquan Mountain Urban Forest Park in eastern Chengdu Metropolis, West China, an unidentified species of Euonymus (Celastraceae) was encountered. It resembles both E. chloranthoides and E. aquifolium in vegetative appearance, but it has exclusively 4‐merous flowers. A phylogenetic analysis incorporating 51 taxa of Euonymus and Glyptopetalum supported its recognition as a new species, positioned phylogenetically sister to a clade containing Glyptopetalum species, and close to E. chloranthoides and E. aquifolium. To acknowledge the expanded Chengdu urbanization and the recently planned mountain urban forest park, it is described as E. chengduanus, and its diagnostic morphological characters are compared with E. aquifolium, E. chloranthoides, and Glyptopetalum ilicifolium. This discovery implies that even in intensively anthropogenic‐impacted areas adjacent to large cities, undocumented plant diversity may still exist. Consequently, this new species is tentatively assessed as Critically Endangered (CR) to emphasize both the urgency of its protection and to raise public awareness concerning biodiversity in degraded ecosystems.