Impatiens beipanjiangensis Jian Xu & H. F. Hu (Balsaminaceae), a new species of Impatiens subg. Clavicarpa discovered in Guizhou, China, is described and illustrated in this study along with its molecular phylogenetic analysis. I. beipanjiangensis is similar to I. liboensis, I. chishuiensis and I. clavigera in morphology, but I. tubulosa has the closest relationship to it. However, there are various ways in which the new species can be easily distinguished from these four species: Inferior nodes swollen rhizoid, pale green and with hooked outer sepals, longer lateral united petals, subovate auricle, deeper lower sepal and shorter spur that is reflexed towards the lower sepal. Furthermore, I. beipanjiangensis is distinguished from other Impatiens species, based on morphological, micromorphological and palynological evidence and molecular data (PP 0.967).

The sect. Chrysantha Chang of plants with yellow flowers of Camellia species as the “Queen of the Tea Family”, most of these species are narrowly distributed endemics of China and are currently listed Grde-II in National Key Protected Wild Plant of China. They are commercially important plants with horticultural medicinal and scientific research value. However, the study of the sect. Chrysantha species genetics are still in its infancy, to date, the mitochondrial genome in sect. Chrysantha has been still unexplored. In this study, we provide a comprehensive assembly and annotation of the mitochondrial genomes for four species within the sect. Chrysantha. The results showed that the mitochondrial genomes were composed of closed-loop DNA molecules with sizes ranging from 850,836 bp (C. nitidissima) to 1,098,121 bp (C. tianeensis) with GC content of 45.71–45.78% and contained 48–58 genes, including 28–37 protein-coding genes, 17–20 tRNA genes and 2 rRNA genes. We also examined codon usage, sequence repeats, RNA editing and selective pressure in the four species. Then, we performed a comprehensive comparison of their basic structures, GC contents, codon preferences, repetitive sequences, RNA editing sites, Ka/Ks ratios, haplotypes, and RNA editing sites. The results showed that these plants differ little in gene type and number. C. nitidissima has the greatest variety of genes, while C. tianeensis has the greatest loss of genes. The Ka/Ks values of the atp6 gene in all four plants were greater than 1, indicating positive selection. And the codons ending in A and T were highly used. In addition, the RNA editing sites differed greatly in number, type, location, and efficiency. Twelve, six, five, and twelve horizontal gene transfer (HGT) fragments were found in C. tianeensis, Camellia huana, Camellia liberofilamenta, and C. nitidissima, respectively. The phylogenetic tree clusters the four species of sect. Chrysantha plants into one group, and C. huana and C. liberofilamenta have closer affinities. In this study, the mitochondrial genomes of four sect. Chrysantha plants were assembled and annotated, and these results contribute to the development of new genetic markers, DNA barcode databases, genetic improvement and breeding, and provide important references for scientific research, population genetics, and kinship identification of sect. Chrysantha plants.

Paphiopedilum armeniacum, Paphiopedilum wenshanense and Paphiopedilum emersonii are critically endangered wild orchids. Their populations are under severe threat, with a dramatic decline in the number of their natural distribution sites. Ex situ conservation and artificial breeding are the keys to maintaining the population to ensure the success of ex situ conservation and field return in the future. The habitat characteristics and soil nutrient information of the last remaining wild distribution sites of the three species were studied. ITS high-throughput sequencing was used to reveal the composition and structure of the soil fungal community, analyze its diversity and functional characteristics, and reveal its relationship with soil nutrients. The three species preferred to grow on low-lying, ventilated and shaded declivities with good water drainage. There were significant differences in soil alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen and available phosphorus among the three species. There were 336 fungal species detected in the samples. On average, there were different dominant groups in the soil fungal communities of the three species. The functional groups of soil fungi within their habitats were dominated by saprophytic fungi and ectomycorrhizae, with significant differences in diversity and structure. The co-occurrence network of habitat soil fungi was mainly positive. Soil pH significantly affected soil fungal diversity within their habitats of the three paphiopedilum species. The study confirmed that the dominant groups of soil fungi were significantly correlated with soil nutrients. The three species exhibit comparable habitat inclinations, yet they display substantial variations in the composition, structure, and diversity of soil fungi. The fungal functional group is characterized by a rich presence of saprophytic fungi, a proliferation of ectomycorrhizae, and a modest occurrence of orchid mycorrhizae. The symbiotic interactions among the soil fungi associated with these three species are well-coordinated, enhancing their resilience against challenging environmental conditions. There is a significant correlation between soil environmental factors and the composition of soil fungal communities, with pH emerging as a pivotal factor regulating fungal diversity. Our research into the habitat traits and soil fungal ecosystems of the three wild Paphiopedilum species has established a cornerstone for prospective ex situ conservation measures and the eventual reestablishment of these species in their native landscapes.

Biological habitat islanding occurs with the expansion of human activities. Nature reserves are biodiversity hotspots and sources of biodiversity diffusion. To explore the geographical causes of biodiversity and the impact of habitat island on biodiversity, we studied the spatial network relationships of biodiversity in nature reserves and the spatial characteristics of ecological corridors in reserves using various biodiversity indicators and ecological factors of important nature reserves, digital elevation models, and information regarding the land use types in Guizhou Province. Data were analyzed using canonical correspondence analysis and the lowest-cost analysis method. The results of this study showed that the factors that determine the biodiversity of the dominant region are heat, moisture, rock type, parent rock, and soil type. The nature reserves can be divided into seven categories according to the characteristics and ecological factors of the biodiversity network. We identified ecological corridors for biodiversity diffusion and classified them by levels of importance according to their degree of corridor composition.

Species of the subgenus Brachypetalum are the most primitive, most ornamental and most threatened group in the Orchid. This study revealed the ecological characteristics, soil nutrient characteristics and soil fungal community structure of habitats of the subgenus Brachypetalum in Southwest China. Lays a foundation for research on the wild populations and conservation Brachypetalum. The results showed that species of the subgenus Brachypetalum preferred a cool and humid environment, grew in scattered or aggregated form in narrow negative terrain, mainly in humic soil. The soil physical and chemical properties and soil enzyme activity indexes of the habitats were significantly different among different species, and the soil properties of different distribution points of the same species also varied greatly. There were significant differences in the soil fungal community structure among the habitats of different species. Basidiomycetes and ascomycetes were the main fungi in habitats of subgenus Brachypetalum species, and their relative abundance varied among different species. The functional groups of soil fungi were mainly symbiotic fungi and saprophytic fungi. LEfSe analysis found that there were different numbers and species of biomarkers in the habitats of subgenus Brachypetalum species, indicating that the habitat preference characteristics of each species in subgenus Brachypetalum were reflected in the fungal community. It was found that environmental factors had an impact on the changes in soil fungal communities in the habitats of subgenus Brachypetalum species, with climatic factors having the highest explanation rate (20.96%). Soil properties were significantly positively or negatively correlated with a variety of dominant soil fungal groups. Conclusions: The results of this study lay the foundation for the study of the habitat characteristics of wild populations of subgenus Brachypetalum and provides data to support in situ and ex situ conservation in the future.

Hypericum liboense M.T.An & T.R.Wu, sp. nov. (Hypericaceae) is a newly described species found in the Maolan National Nature Reserve of Guizhou Province, where it grows in rocky habitats without soil on karst mountain tops. In this study, key morphological characters were compared between the new species and the other known Hypericum species of Hypericaceae. DNA sequences were extracted from the leaves of the new species, with nuclear gene sequences (ITS) generated to reconstruct phylogenetic trees and describe its phylogenetic position in relation to other species of Hypericum. Our results show that the proposed new species has the typical characteristics of the genus Hypericum in morphology being similar to Hypericum monogynum, but differing in its sessile and semi-clasped leaves, long elliptical to long circular leaf blades, thickly papery to thinly leathery, with entire and wavy leaf margins. The abaxial side of the leaves is covered with white powder, giving them a grey-white appearance. The main lateral veins of the leaves are 8–15-paired, and the midvein on both sides is convex. The main lateral veins and midvein branch are conspicuous, with tertiary venation forming a network on the leaf surface and appearing prominently sunken. The inflorescences are 1–3-flowered, with a large calyx and conspicuous veins. The molecular phylogenetic analysis (PP = 1.00) provided substantial evidence for the proposition of H. liboense as a new species within Hypericum. Morphological and molecular evidence is presented, corroborating the proposition of the new species, including a comprehensive account of the distinctive morphological attributes of H. liboense, along with its key distinguishing features from similar species.