DNA binding with one finger (Dof) proteins, forming an important transcriptional factor family, are involved in gene transcriptional regulation, development, stress responses, and flowering responses in annual plants. However, knowledge of Dofs in perennial and erratically flowering moso bamboo is limited. In view of this, a Dof gene, PheDof12-1, was isolated from moso bamboo. PheDof12-1 is located in the nucleus and has the highest expression in palea and the lowest in bract. Moreover, PheDof12-1 expression is high in flowering leaves, then declines during flower development. The transcription level of PheDof12-1 is highly induced by cold, drought, salt, and gibberellin A3 (GA₃) stresses. The functional characteristics of PheDof are researched for the first time in Arabidopsis, and the results show that transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing PheDof12-1 shows early flowering under long-day (LD) conditions but there is no effect on flowering time under short-day (SD) conditions; the transcription levels of FT, SOC1, and AGL24 are upregulated; and FLC and SVP are downregulated. PheDof12-1 exhibits a strong diurnal rhythm, inhibited by light treatment and induced in dark. Yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) assay shows that PheDof12-1 can bind to the promoter sequence of PheCOL4. Taken together, these results indicate that PheDof12-1 might be involved in abiotic stress and flowering time, which makes it an important candidate gene for studying the molecular regulation mechanisms of moso bamboo flowering.

Heat shock transcription factors (Hsfs) play crucial roles in regulating plant responses to heat and other stresses, as well as in plant development. As the largest monopodial bamboo species in the world, how to adapt to various stresses under the background of global climate change is very important for the sustainable development of bamboo forest. However, our understanding of the function of Hsfs in moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) is limited. In this study, a total of 22 non-redundant Hsf genes were identified in the moso bamboo genome. Structural characteristics and phylogenetic analysis revealed that members of the PheHsf family can be clustered into three classes (A, B and C). Furthermore, PheHsfs promoters contained a number of stress-, hormone- and development-related cis-acting elements. Transcriptome analysis indicated that most PheHsfs participate in rapid shoot growth and flower development in moso bamboo. Moreover, the expression patterns of all 12 members of class A were analyzed under various stresses (heat, drought, salt and cold treatment) through Figurereal-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Within the class A PheHsf members, PheHsfA1a was expressed mainly during moso bamboo development. Expression of four PheHsfA4s and one PheHsfA2 (PheHsfA4a-1, PheHsfA4a-2, PheHsfA4d-1, PheHsfA4d-2, and PheHsfA2a-2) was up-regulated in response to various stresses. PheHsfA2a-2, PheHsfA4d-1 and PheHsfA4d-2 were strongly induced respectively by heat, drought and NaCl stress. Through co-expression analysis we found that two hub genes PheHsfA4a-2 and PheHsfA4a-1 were involved in a complex protein interaction network. Based on the prediction of protein interaction networks, five PheHsfAs (PheHsfA4a-1, PheHsfA4a-2, PheHsfA4d-1, PheHsfA4d-2, and PheHsfA2a-2) were predicted to play an important role in flower and shoot development and abiotic stress response of moso bamboo. This study provides an overview of the complexity of the PheHsf gene family and a basis for analyzing the functions of PheHsf genes of interest.

Flavonoids with great medicinal value play an important role in plant individual growth and stress resistance. Flavonol synthase (FLS) is one of the key enzymes to synthesize flavonoids. However, there is no information available about FLS family in Eucommia ulmoides , an ancient and precious plant with great economic value. In this study, twelve EuFLS genes were identified and classified into two distinct subgroups based on their phylogenetic trees, these genes were unevenly distributed across eight chromosomes. Gene structure analysis revealed that EuFLS genes contained between two and four introns. The number of introns within members of the same evolutionary branch was generally consistent. The EuFLS promoters region contained a substantial number of hormone-responsive, stress-responsive, and light-responsive. RNA-seq data revealed tissue-specific expression patterns, EuFLS2 and EuFLS9 displayed the highest expression levels in leaves, whereas EuFLS4 the peak expression level in the xylem. The majority of EuFLS genes showed higher expression levels in red leaves and male flowers; furthermore, these genes contributed to leaf development and rubber biosynthesis. qRT-PCR analysis showed that most EuFLS genes downregulation under ABA and SA treatments. EuFLSs displayed divergent expression trends under MeJA treatment. While drought stress significantly induced the expression of most EuFLSs , especially, EuFLS9 was induced 50-fold at 3 h, suggesting that FLS genes in E. ulmoides regulate plant growth and respond to different stresses by following different hormone signaling pathways, which laid a valuable foundation for further understanding the function of FLS genes in multiple stress responses and phytohormone crosstalk in E. ulmoides .

Background: KNOX (KNOTTED1-like HOMEOBOX) belongs to an important class of homeobox genes, these genes encode homeodomain proteins that bind to specific cis -elements of target genes and participate in plant development, secondary metabolism, and stress adaptation. However, genome-wide identification of the KNOX gene family has not been reported in E. ulmoides . Result: In this study, 8 KNOX proteins were identified based on genomic database of E. ulmoides . Phylogenetic analysis showed that the EuKNOX proteins were distributed in five subgroups based on homology with KNOX proteins in Arabidopsis , these genes were unevenly distributed across six chromosomes. Gene structure analysis revealed that EuKNOX genes contained between three and four introns, with number within the same subgroup sharing similar intron numbers. Prediction of cis -regulatory elements indicated that the EuKNOX genes were involved in hormone response, light response and stress response. RNA-seq data revealed tissue-specific expression patterns, among which five EuKNOXs were highly expressed in the xylem. The expression levels of most EuKNOXs were higher in female flowers than in male flowers. EuKNOXs contribute to bark, fruit and leaf development, Eu-rubber biosynthesis and leaf-color formation. qRT-PCR results showed that NaCl and GA ₃ induced the expression of most EuKNOXs , especially, EuKNOX5 was induced by 343-fold at 24 h under NaCl stress. Whereas MeJA treatment suppressed the expression of most EuKNOXs genes. EuKNOX s showed a trend of first increasing, then decreasing and then increasing under drought and ABA treatment. Conclusion: This study systematically identified and characterized the KNOX superfamily in E. ulmoides . Our results revealed differential expression of the EuKNOX genes in response to NaCl, GA ₃ , MeJA and ABA stresses These findings provide a foundation for future functional investigations of EuKNOX genes and offer valuable insights into the genetic improvement of abiotic stress resistance in E. ulmoides .

Quality is critical to the market competitiveness of medicinal and edible GF. However, the current quality standards of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia rely on a single index and cannot comprehensively evaluate food material with diverse origins and multiple functional components. This study established a holistic evaluation strategy based on “functional component group” and “quality control coefficient Q”. Seven stable fingerprint peaks of iridoids and iridoid glycosides were identified by chromatography, with Q ≥ 3.67 as the quality benchmark. In cell experiments, HQG outperformed QG in the MTT assay of LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. In addition, 78 volatile compounds and 22 inorganic elements were analyzed by GC-MS and ICP-MS, respectively, as complementary analyses. Combined with chemometrics, the samples were discriminated according to geographical origin and tissue, and characteristic markers were screened on an exploratory basis. This study provides a scientific basis for precise quality control and screening of high-quality GF, and offers a reference framework for quality evaluation of other medicinal and edible homologous plants.