Thuja sutchuenensis Franch., an endangered species sparsely distributed in the mountainous and arid regions of southwest China, faces the critical challenge of adapting to these harsh conditions. Understanding the plant’s strategies for survival and the precise roles played by soil fungal communities in this adaptation remains an area of limited knowledge. Our investigation centers on the fungal communities associated with T. sutchuenensis and their interactions with soil water content. Notably, we identified unique fungal communities in the low soil moisture group, and these communities exhibited lower coverage but higher phylogenetic diversity (PD), Chao1, and Shannon indices compared to other groups. Network analysis revealed a modular structure within the fungal communities, with key hub nodes identified, particularly in the arid group. This group demonstrated higher levels of soil saprotrophs and ectomycorrhizal fungi and a reduced presence of plant pathogens. Linear discriminant analysis highlighted the significance of genera such as Russula, Myxotrichaceae, and Sebacina, emphasizing their roles in supporting the plant in arid environments. Random forest analysis indicated that soil moisture content emerged as the primary driver in determining fungal composition and diversity and contributed to the variables of several fungal genera. Collectively, this study provides valuable insights into the fungal communities associated with T. sutchuenensis, shedding light on their adaptation to extreme arid conditions.
Plants classified to the genus Callicarpa L. have important medicinal and ornamental value. Here, we report and characterize the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of C. bodinieri to provide molecular basis for the further studies on the phylogeny analysis of this genus. The cp genome is 154,183 bp in length and is organized with a typical quadripartite structure, containing two inverted repeats of 25,701 bp separated by a large single-copy region of 84,956 bp and a small single-copy region of 17,825 bp. The cp genome of C. bodinieri contains 112 distinct genes, including 78 protein-coding, 30 tRNAs and 4 rRNAs genes. The phylogenetic analysis showed that C. bodinieri is fully resolved in a clade with C. nudiflora, sister to the clade of C. formosana and C. longifolia var. floccosa.
Callicarpa longifolia Lamk. var. floccosa Schauer is a species with medicinal and ornamental values. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome of C. longifolia var. floccose is reported. The chloroplast genome of this species is 154,285 bp in length and contains a typical circular quadripartite structure. There are two inverted repeats of 25,700 bp, which is separated by a large single-copy region of 85,008 bp and a small single-copy region of 17,877 bp. The complete chloroplast contains 112 distinct genes, including 78 protein-coding, 30 tRNAs and 4 rRNAs genes. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that C. longifolia var. floccose is closely associated with C. formosana.
Myricaria laxiflora, which grows along the Yangtze River in China, holds ornamental, ecological, and medicinal value. However, its wild population is threatened and currently designated protected as a national priority. The present research was the first to sequence and assemble M. laxiflora’s mitochondrial genome and examine its structural characteristics and phylogenetic relationships with other sequenced Caryophyllales species. The mitochondrial double-stranded closed-ring genome of M. laxiflora was found to be 389,949 bp in length, containing numerous repetitive sequences and RNA editing sites, with 34 protein encoding, 21 tRNA, and 3 rRNA genes. Although there are 22 fragments in the mitochondrial genome of M. laxiflora that are homologous to its chloroplast genome, they are incomplete gene fragments. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated evolutionary associations with related populations and was in agreement with findings on the chloroplast genome. These findings not only lay a foundation for its preservation but also offer valuable insights for evolutionary analysis and plant breeding research.