Jasmonic acid (JA) and its precursors and dervatives, referred as jasmonates (JAs) are important molecules in the regulation of many physiological processes in plant growth and development, and especially the mediation of plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. JAs biosynthesis, perception, transport, signal transduction and action have been extensively investigated. In this review, we will discuss the initiation of JA signaling with a focus on environmental signal perception and transduction, JA biosynthesis and metabolism, transport of signaling molecules (local transmission, vascular bundle transmission, and airborne transportation), and biological function (JA signal receptors, regulated transcription factors, and biological processes involved).

Background: Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) is a nutritionally balanced and flavonoid-rich crop plant that has been in cultivation for 4000 years and is now grown globally. Despite its nutraceutical and agricultural value, the characterization of its genetics and its domestication history is limited.Results: Here, we report a comprehensive database of Tartary buckwheat genomic variation based on whole-genome resequencing of 510 germplasms. Our analysis suggests that two independent domestication events occurred in southwestern and northern China, resulting in diverse characteristics of modern Tartary buckwheat varieties. Genome-wide association studies for important agricultural traits identify several candidate genes, includingFtUFGT3andFtAP2YT1that significantly correlate with flavonoid accumulation and grain weight, respectively.Conclusions: We describe the domestication history of Tartary buckwheat and provide a detailed resource of genomic variation to allow for genomic-assisted breeding in the improvement of elite cultivars.

The nutritional value of Tartary buckwheat is much higher than that of common buckwheat. Tartary buckwheat is rich in nutrients, some of them unique, and has good medicinal properties. It also serves as a good feed crop. This review aims to provide an up-to-date and comprehensive literature on Tartary buckwheat’s active substances (proteins, polyphenols, D-chiro-inositol, fat-soluble substances, resistant starch, dietary fiber, minerals and vitamins), medicinal value (e.g., prevention of AIDS, and prevention and treatment of cancer, and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases) and nutritional effects (as an antioxidant, in lowering blood pressure, blood fat, and blood sugar, for detoxification and weight loss), etc., and research activities connected to Tartary buckwheat and its health effects in China and abroad. This review is expected to present a reference for the further development and utilization of Tartary buckwheat.

Buckwheat (Fagopyrumgenus, Polygonaceae), is an annual or perennial, herbaceous or semi-shrub dicotyledonous plant. There are mainly three cultivated buckwheat species, common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum)is widely cultivated in Asia, Europe, and America, while Tartary buckwheat (F. tataricum) andF. cymosum(also known asF. dibotrys) are mainly cultivated in China. The genusFagopyrumis taxonomically confusing due to the complex phenotypes of differentFagopyrumspecies. In this study, the chloroplast (cp) genomes of threeFagopyrumspecies,F. longistylum,F. leptopodum,F. urophyllum, were sequenced, and five published cp genomes ofFagopyrumwere retrieved for comparative analyses. We determined the sequence differentiation, repeated sequences of the cp genomes, and the phylogeny ofFagopyrumspecies. The eight cp genomes ranged, gene number, gene order, and GC content were presented. Most of variations ofFagopyrumspecies cp genomes existed in the LSC and SSC regions. Among eightFagopyrumchloroplast genomes, six variable regions (ndhF-rpl32,trnS-trnG,trnC,trnE-trnT,psbD, andtrnV) were detected as promising DNA barcodes. In addition, a total of 66 different SSR (simple sequence repeats) types were found in the eightFagopyrumspecies, ranging from 8 to 16 bp. Interestingly, many SSRs showed significant differences especially in some photosystem genes, which provided valuable information for understanding the differences in light adaptation among differentFagopyrumspecies. GenusFagopyrumhas shown a typical branch that is distinguished from theRumex,Rheum, andReynoutria, which supports the unique taxonomic status inFagopyrumamong the Polygonaceae. In addition, phylogenetic analysis based on the cp genomes strongly supported the division of eightFagopyrumspecies into two independent evolutionary directions, suggesting that the separation of cymosum group and urophyllum group may be earlier than the flower type differentiation inFagopyrumplants. The results of the chloroplast-based phylogenetic tree were further supported by thematKand Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) sequences of 17Fagopyrumspecies, which may help to further anchor the taxonomic status of other members in the urophyllum group inFagopyrum. This study provides valuable information and high-quality cp genomes for identifying species and evolutionary analysis for futureFagopyrumresearch.