High-affinity K⁺ transporter (HAK) is one of the most important K⁺ transporter families in plants and plays an important role in plant K⁺ uptake and transport. To explore the biological functions and gene expression patterns of the HAK gene family members in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris), physicochemical properties, the gene structure, chromosomal location, phylogenetic evolution, conserved motifs, three-dimensional structure, interaction network, cis-acting elements of promoter of BvHAKs were predicted by bioinformatic analysis, and their expression levels in different tissues of sugar beet under salt stress were analyzed by qRT-PCR. A total of 10 BvHAK genes were identified in the sugar beet genome. They contained 8-10 exons and 7-9 introns. The average number of amino acids was 778.30, the average molecular weight was 88.31 kDa, and the isoelectric point was 5.38-9.41. The BvHAK proteins contained 11-14 transmembrane regions. BvHAK4, -5, -7 and -13 were localized on plasma membrane, while others were localized on tonoplast. Phylogenetic analysis showed that HAK in higher plants can be divided into five clusters, namely cluster Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ, and Ⅴ, among which the members of cluster Ⅱ can be divided into three subclusters, including Ⅱa, Ⅱb, and Ⅱc. The BvHAK gene family members were distributed in cluster Ⅰ-Ⅳ with 1, 6, 1, and 2 members, respectively. The promoter of BvHAK gene family mainly contained stress responsive elements, hormone responsive elements, and growth and development responsive elements. The expression pattern of the BvHAK genes were further analyzed in different tissues of sugar beet upon salt treatment, and found that 50 and 100 mmol/L NaCl significantly induced the expression of the BvHAK genes in both shoots and roots. High salt (150 mmol/L) treatment clearly down-regulated their expression levels in shoots, but not in roots. These results suggested that the BvHAK gene family plays important roles in the response of sugar beet to salt stress.
Beta vulgaris/genetics* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots ; Sugars/metabolism* ; Plant Proteins/metabolism*

OBJECTIVETo study the distribution and dynamic change of coumarins in the leaf and root of Dendrobium thyrsiflorum at different developmental stages, and provide an experimental evidence for utilizing the medicinal plant.

METHODThe leaf and root materials were collected at vegetative and reproductive stage. By applying laser scanning confocal microscopy, relative quantity of coumarins of each sample was observed and analyzed.

RESULTCoumarins located in D. thyrsiflorum leaf except fibers in vascular bundles which were close to the upper or lower epidermis. Coumarins were found in D. thyrsiflorum root structure at different developmental stages and walls of cells within cortex were especial appropriate places for the components distribution. Relative quantity of coumarins was changed obviously when plant was growing. The components reached the highest level during profuse flowering period whereas there were less coumarins at vegetative period and little during initial fruit period.

CONCLUSIONIn order to utilize D. thyrsiflorum reasonably and thoroughly, coumarins should be extracted from the plant leaf and root.

Coumarins ; metabolism ; Dendrobium ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Plant Leaves ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; metabolism ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVEThe interrelation of yield and agronomic traits of Gentiana rigescens was studied for the germplasm and breeding variety of this species.

METHODTwelve agronomic traits, root diameter, root length, root number, root biomass, stem diameter, plant height, the first branch number, leaf length, leaf width, leaf length/leaf width ratio, calyx length, and calyx number of G. rigescens from 26 wild populations in Yunnan were determined for correlation analysis, multiple stepwise regression analysis and path analysis.

RESULTCorrelation analysis showed that there were significantly positive correlation between the traits of aboveground part and the length, diameter, number, and biomass of the root. Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that length, width, and number of root, plant height, the first branch number, and the calyx number were the main factors that affected the root biomass. Path analysis showed that the diameter, length, and number of the root, the stem height, and the first branch number had a direct positive effect on the root biomass.

CONCLUSIONThe traits, such as high and strong stem, high number of first branch number and shrubby shape could be selected for the breeding and high yielding of G. rigescens.

Gentiana ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Leaves ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; growth & development ; metabolism

Danshen, the dried roots and rhizomes of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (S. miltiorrhiza), is widely used in the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Tanshinones, the bioactive compounds from Danshen, exhibit a wide spectrum of pharmacological properties, suggesting their potential for future therapeutic applications. Tanshinone biosynthesis is a complex process involving at least six P450 enzymes that have been identified and characterized, most of which belong to the CYP76 and CYP71 families. In this study, CYP81C16, a member of the CYP71 clan, was identified in S. miltiorrhiza. An in vitro assay revealed that it could catalyze the hydroxylation of four para-quinone-type tanshinones, namely neocryptotanshinone, deoxyneocryptotanshinone, and danshenxinkuns A and B. SmCYP81C16 emerged as a potential broad-spectrum oxidase targeting the C-18 position of para-quinone-type tanshinones with an impressive relative conversion rate exceeding 90%. Kinetic evaluations andin vivo assays underscored its highest affinity towards neocryptotanshinone among the tested substrates. The overexpression of SmCYP81C16 promoted the accumulation of (iso)tanshinone in hairy root lines. The characterization of SmCYP81C16 in this study accentuates its potential as a pivotal tool in the biotechnological production of tanshinones, either through microbial or plant metabolic engineering.
Humans ; Salvia miltiorrhiza/metabolism* ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; Quinones/metabolism* ; Plant Roots/metabolism* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant

Iridoid glycosides were the main active ingredient of Rehmannia glutinosa, of which catalpol has the highest content. This work will provide theoretical basis for metabolic study and cultivation of iridoids on the basis of the dynamic accumulation of catalpol and total iridoids in the growth of R. glutinosa. The samples of rehmannia 85-5 were gathered in the same filed from July to October. The contents of catalpol and total iridoid glycosides were measured by HPLC and specteophotometric, respectively. The results showed that youngest leaves had the higher content of catalpol and total iridoid glyosides than that of the other two leaf ages in the same growth stage from July to September, while their content of catalpol and total iridoid glycosides were all decreased as the growth of leaves of R. glutinosa. The content of catalpol didn't differ significantly from July to September, whereas it has significantly increased in October in the three leaf stage. In the same stage, the wider the root diameter is, the higher content of the effective components are. In August and September, the total iridoid glycosides have the fastest accumulation. The content of catalpol was increased as the accumulation of total iridoid glycosides.
Iridoid Glucosides ; metabolism ; Iridoids ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; metabolism ; Rehmannia ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Seasons ; Water ; metabolism

Dof(DNA binding with one finger), a unique class of transcription factors in plants, play an important role in seed development, tissue differentiation, and metabolic regulation. To identify the number and function of Dof gene family members in Panax ginseng, this study identified the members of Dof gene family in P. ginseng and systematically analyzed their structures, evolution, functional differentiation, expression patterns, and interactions using bioinformatics methods at the transcriptome level. At the same time, the association analysis of Dof genes from P. ginseng with key enzyme genes for ginsenoside synthesis was carried out to screen the candidate PgDof genes involved in the regulation of ginsenoside biosynthesis. The results showed that there were 54 genes belonging to the Dof gene family in P. ginseng from Jilin. All PgDof genes had Zf-Dof conserved motifs, implying that they were evolutionarily conserved and could be divided into five groups. Expression pattern analysis confirmed that the expression of PgDof gene family members in different tissues, different year-old P. ginseng, and different farm varieties varied significantly. Simultaneously, as revealed by "gene-saponin content" and "gene-gene" linkage analysis, an important candidate PgDof14-1 gene involved in the regulation of ginsenoside biosynthesis was obtained. From the established genetic transformation system of this gene in the hairy roots of P. ginseng, a positive hairy root clone was determined. This study has laid a theoretical foundation for the study of Dof gene family in P. ginseng.
Gene Expression Profiling/methods* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Ginsenosides ; Panax ; Plant Proteins/metabolism* ; Plant Roots/metabolism* ; Transcriptome

OBJECTIVETo observe the pollen morphological differences among different populations of Changium smyrnioides.

METHODThe pollen morphology of 10 populations were examined through LM and SEM observations.

RESULTPollens in different populations were distinguished from each other in the size, the largest average size was the pollen of the population cultivated in Hongshan, and the smallest was that of the population cultivated in Jiuhuashan. Pollens were oval-shaped in all of the populations, and P/E values were around 1.5. Typical feature of surface ornamentation was stripe-like structure, different populations were distinguished from each other in the texture depth and the gap. With different length and width in different populations, typical feature of germinal aperture was nearly square and 3 germinal furrows. Variation with 4 germinal apertures were found in the pollen of population cultivated in Hongshan.

CONCLUSIONDiversity of pollen morphology was high, and differentiation was strong in Ch. smyrnioides.

Apiaceae ; chemistry ; Cevanes ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; Glycoproteins ; Plant Proteins ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Pollen ; growth & development

Plants are a rich source of valuable secondary metabolites and in the recent years plant cell, tissue and organ cultures have been developed as an important alternative sources for the production of these compounds. Adventitious roots have been successfully induced in many plant species and cultured for the production of high value secondary metabolites of pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and industrial importance. Adoption of elicitation methods have shown improved synthesis of secondary metabolites in adventitious root cultures. Development of large-scale culture methods using bioreactors has opened up feasibilities of production of secondary metabolites at the industrial levels. In the present review we summarize the progress made in recent past in the area of adventitious root cultures for the production of secondary metabolites.
Bioreactors ; Biotechnology ; methods ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Plant Development ; Plant Roots ; growth & development ; Plants ; metabolism

Photosynthetic and growth characteristics of Angelica dahurica were studied in order to clarity the relations of photosynthesis, growth and root dry weight, and provide a theoretical basis for its cultivation. Photosynthesis and growth indexes were meas- ured every 25 days. The contents of chlorophyll a, b, a + b, soluble protein and the activities of Hill reaction, Ca(2+)-ATPase, Mg(2+)-ATPase had an increasing trend; They had the highest value in leaf high-speed growth period. Then, they were decreased in root high- speed growth period. The root dry weight showed negative corelation with photosynthetic characteristics indexes except stomatal con- ductance, however, the negative corelation only from net photosynthetic rate and Ca(2+)-ATPase were significant. The vegetative growth period of spring sowing A. dahuricia was divided into three phases: seedling period, leaf high-speed growth period and root high-speed growth period. The root dry weight showed a significantly positive corelation with the root diameter, leaf dry weight, shoot dry weight, aboveground dry weight. There was the competitive relation between aboveground and underground, so underground growth could be es- timated from leaf area and shoot dimeter.
Adenosine Triphosphatases ; metabolism ; Angelica ; enzymology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Chlorophyll ; metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Proteins ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; growth & development ; Seasons

OBJECTIVETo study Chrysanthemum morifolium dry matter accumulation and absorption characteristics of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium at different growth stages.

METHODThrough the field experiment and the sampling analysis, the absorbing capacity of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium as well as the growth of plant at different growth stages in Ch. morifolium were analyzed.

RESULTThe dry matter accumulation reached 70.4% of the total accumulation within 60-150 days after transplantation. Dry matter mainly distributed in leaf within 60 days after transplantation, the distribution ratio in the stem was higher than that in leaf within 60-150 days after transplantation, the highest distribution ratio was the flower, and the second was the root within 150-210 days after transplantation. The accumulative capacity of N, P and K by Ch. morifolium was lower within 45 days after transplantation, which only accounted for 16.14%, 13.39% and 10.19% of total absorptive capacity, respectively. But it increased rapidly within 45-150 days after transplantation, which accounted for 71.86%, 63.81% and 62.94% respectively. The nitrogen accumulation was slower, while the accumulation of phosphorus and potassium was increased rapidly, within 150-210 days after transplantation. The distribution ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium was different within different organs in different growth stages. The distribution ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium was mainly distributed in stem and leaf, within 150 days after transplantation, then transferring to the flower and root, the transferring efficiency was N > P > K.

CONCLUSIONthe absorption capacity of K was the highest, followed by N and P. The N : P205 : K2O ratio was 1 : 0.88 : 1.58. Correlation analysis showed that dry matter accumulation and nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium accumulation correlated positively. For producing 1g dry matter, Ch. morifolium needed to absorb 5.198 1 mg N, 4.329 5 mg P205 and 7.138 5 mg K20 from soil and fertilizer.

Absorption ; Chrysanthemum ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Fertilizers ; analysis ; Nitrogen ; metabolism ; Phosphorus ; metabolism ; Plant Leaves ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Stems ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Potassium ; metabolism