Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) is a crucial species among the 500 varieties of bamboo found in China and plays an important role in providing ecosystem services. However, remote sensing studies on the invasion of Moso bamboo, especially its impact on forest biodiversity, are limited. Therefore, we explored the feasibility of using Sentinel-2 multispectral data and digital elevation data from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission and random forest (RF) algorithms to monitor changes in forest diversity due to the spread of Moso bamboo. From October to November 2019, researchers conducted field surveys on 100 subtropical forest plots in Zhejiang Province, China. Four biodiversity indices (Margalef, Shannon, Simpson, and Pielou) were calculated from the survey data. Subsequently, after completing 100 epochs of training and testing, we developed the RF prediction model and assessed its performance using three key metrics: coefficient of determination, root mean squared error, and mean absolute error. Our results showed that the RF model has a strong predictive ability for all indices except for the Pilou index, which has an average predictive ability. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using remote sensing to monitor forest diversity changes caused by the spreading of Moso bamboo.

This study investigated how Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis)–broadleaf mixed forests influence soil properties and microbial communities to support ecological function and sustainable bamboo forest management. Three forest types were examined: pure Moso bamboo stands (MB) and mixed stands with Liquidambar formosana (LB) or Phoebe chekiangensis (PB). Soil chemical properties, microbial diversity, and community composition were assessed using high-throughput sequencing, and functional taxa were correlated with soil nutrients. The results showed that mixed forests significantly influenced soil chemical properties. PB showed the lowest pH and highest total nitrogen (TN), while MB exhibited the highest soil organic matter (SOM) and total potassium (TK). LB maintained moderate TN, high SOM and TK, and stable pH, indicating a balanced nutrient profile. Although α-diversity did not differ significantly, β-diversity analysis revealed distinct microbial community structure (p < 0.01). LB was enriched with carbon-decomposing taxa (Terriglobales and Sphingomonas), PB with acid-tolerant, nitrogen-cycling groups (Candidatus Binatus), and MB with nitrogen-fixing taxa (Nitrobacteraceae and Bradyrhizobium). Co-occurrence network and functional pathway analyses indicated group-specific microbial associations and greater metabolic diversity in LB and PB. In conclusion, mixed Moso bamboo with broadleaf species significantly modified soil chemical properties and microbial community structure, with the Moso bamboo—L. formosana combination showing potential for improving soil nutrient status and microbial function.

Rhododendron lapponicum (L.) Wahlenb., prized for its vibrant and diverse floral displays, holds significant ornamental and ecological value. However, advances in its molecular breeding have been constrained by the absence of reliable tools for accurate gene expression analysis. A fundamental requirement for such studies is the identification of stable reference genes for qRT-PCR. To date, no systematically validated reference genes exist for normalizing gene expression across R. lapponicum cultivars with diverse flower colors, representing a major technical obstacle to elucidating the molecular mechanisms of color formation. This study aimed to fill this gap by systematically identifying and validating optimal reference genes for petal tissues in six distinct R. lapponicum cultivars. We assessed the expression stability of 11 candidate genes using four independent algorithms and integrated the results via RefFinder. Our comprehensive analysis across multiple algorithms consistently identified RlaEF1-α and RlaACT as the most stably expressed reference genes. Their reliability was robustly validated by normalizing the expression of RlaMYB113, a key anthocyanin regulator; the normalized expression levels showed an extremely significant difference between rose-red and white cultivars (p < 0.001) and produced a coherent, phenotype-correlated profile, in contrast to the distorted patterns obtained with unstable references. This study establishes RlaEF1-α and RlaACT as a precise dual-gene internal control for qRT-PCR. By providing a validated normalization framework, our work enables accurate quantification of color-related genes and directly supports molecular breeding efforts aimed at the targeted development and selection of novel R. lapponicum cultivars with desirable and stable flower colors.

Intensive management practices promote microplastic (MP) accumulation in Phyllostachys violascens forests, posing potential threats to ecosystem stability and the edibility safety of bamboo shoots. However, how urbanization and mulching duration jointly regulate MP distribution, transfer, and associated food safety risks remains unclear. We investigated MP dynamics across urban–rural gradients (suburban vs. exurban) under different mulching durations (no mulching, short–term mulching, and long–term mulching), focusing on the rhizome–root–soil system and bamboo shoots. MP abundance was significantly higher in suburban forests, with maxima under long–term mulching, whereas in exurban forests, peaks occurred under long–term mulching. Urbanization also altered MP allocation patterns, with enrichment in rhizome roots and rhizomes in suburban forests but greater accumulation in bamboo shoots in exurban forests. Long–term mulching markedly enhanced MP accumulation across all components, particularly in clump roots, where abundance was three times higher than that in exurban forests. MPs were predominantly small (20–50 μm), mainly composed of acrylates (ACRs), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyurethane (PU), and polyethylene (PE). Along the “soil–root–rhizome” continuum, contrasting transfer patterns emerged between suburban and exurban forests, with soil total potassium identified as the key driver regulating MP migration and redistribution. Although the pollution load index indicated moderate contamination without significant accumulation in bamboo shoots, the ecological risk index revealed a high ecological risk, highlighting potential food safety concerns. Overall, MP accumulation and migration in Ph. violascens systems are jointly shaped by urban–rural gradients and mulching duration, with implications for belowground processes and the safety of edible bamboo shoots.