Paclitaxel is a medicinal ingredient with high anticancer activity and widely used in hospitals and clinics. In this study, we isolate endophytic fungi efficiently producing paclitaxel from yew for the purpose of paclitaxel manufacture. The bark of Taxus wallichiana var. mairei was surface sterilized and then inoculated in potato dextrose agar culture medium to isolate endophytic fungi. The paclitaxel in the fungal culture was extracted with mixture of chloroform and the same amount of methanol. The content of paclitaxel in the extract was determined and identified with LC-MS. The endophytic fungus efficiently producing paclitaxel was species identified with ITS rDNA and 26S D1/D2 rDNA sequencing. There were 528 endophytic fungal strains were isolated from the bark of T wallichiana var. mairei in total. There was only a strain efficiently producing paclitaxel in these endophytic fungi. The unique strain was identified as Phoma medicaginis. The paclitaxel contents in whole potato dextrose broth (PDB) culture, spent culture medium from this strain and that in dry mycelium is 1.215 mg/L, 0.936 mg/L, and 20 mg/kg, respectively. An endophytic fungus efficiently producing paclitaxel was isolated from T wallichiana var. mairei. This isolated endophytic fungus can be used as a producing strain for paclitaxel manufacture.

The objective of this study was to isolate endophytic fungi producing baccatin III from yew for the purpose of baccatin III and paclitaxel manufacture. Surface sterilized bark of Taxus wallichiana var. mairei was used as source material with potato dextrose agar culture medium for isolation of endophytic fungi. Fungal cultures were extracted with a mixture of chloroform/methanol (1:1, v/v) and the baccatin III in the extracts was determined and authenticated with LC–MS. An endophytic fungus that produced baccatin III was identified by ITS rDNA and 26S D1/D2 rDNA sequencing. A total of 192 endophytic fungal strains were isolated from T. wallichiana var. mairei. Only one of the 192 strains produced baccatin III and it was identified as Diaporthe phaseolorum. The productivity of this strain cultured in PDA culture medium was 0.219 mg/l. The isolated endophytic fungus produced baccatin III at a relatively high level and shows promise as a producing strain for baccatin III and paclitaxel manufacture after strain improvement.

The diurnal variation of photosynthesis, light response curve and CO₂ response curve in Epimedium brevicornu Maxim leaves were determined with Li-6400 photosynthesis system to evaluate the photosynthesis of E. brevicornu. Fluorescence of chlorophyll in the leaves were determined with PAM-2500 portable chlorophyll fluorescence apparatus in the study. The results showed that the midday depression of photosynthesis was very obvious in the E. brevicornu leaves. The light compensation point of E. brevicornu leaves was about 15 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹. The light saturation point of E. brevicornu leaves was below 800 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹, which was lower than the general sunlight intensity at noon in summer. The CO₂ saturation point of E. brevicornu leaves was much higher than the content of CO₂ in general air. E. brevicornu was a typical shade plant and could survive in very low sunlight. E. brevicornu could not endure strong sunlight and high air temperature. The net photosynthetic rate of E. brevicornu leaves linearly correlated with the content of CO₂ in the leaf chamber when the content was below CO₂ saturation point. E. brevicornu possessed great potential of photosynthesis.

The ecological and economic cultivation of Isodon rubescens is currently being carried out. The demand of I. rubescens for light intensity should be made clear to estimate whether the environmental conditions of an area are suitable for cultivating I. Rubescens and improve cultivation techniques. The photosynthetic and chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics of I. rubescens were determined with a Li-6400 photosynthesis system and PAM-2500 portable chlorophyll fluorescence apparatus. The results showed that there was no obvious midday depression of photosynthesis in I. rubescens leaves. The light compensation point and light saturation point of I. rubescens leaves were 21.83482 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ and 802.262 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹, respectively. The CO₂ compensation point and CO₂ saturation point of I. rubescens leaves were 101.7199 µmol·mol⁻¹ and 1674.514 µmol·mol⁻¹, respectively. The maximal photochemical efficiency of photosystem II ((Fm-Fo)/Fm) in I. rubescens leaves reached 0.7. The electron transport rate of photosystem II in I. rubescens leaves reached 20 μmol electrons/(m²·s). I. rubescens can tolerate intense light above the light compensation point and utilize low light. I. rubescens leaves have a strong photoprotective capacity. I. rubescens can grow in both sunny and shady places. The most important factor affecting photosynthetic efficiency in I. rubescens leaves is the concentration of CO₂ in air.