Germplasm degeneration occurs during the long-term cultivation of root-and rhizome-derived traditional Chinese medicine(RR-TCM), which seriously restricts the high-quality development of their industry. Therefore, it is urgent to solve the problem of germplasm degeneration through variety breeding. In this paper, based on previously published research articles, monographs, and news reports, the research progresses on the number and origins, breeding methods, and selection of new varieties of RR-TCM listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia(Edition 2020) were summarized and analyzed. The results show that there are 169 kinds of RR-TCM listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia(Edition 2020), originated from 223 origins with three breeding methods(i.e., seed propagation, vegetative reproduction, and tissue culture), and there are 215 species derived from seed propagation, 177 species derived from vegetative reproduction, and 164 species derived from tissue culture. To date, there are 62 origins breeding new varieties through conventional breeding, cross breeding, mutation breeding, ploidy breeding, or modern biotechnology breeding methods, including 57 origins breeding 145 new varieties through conventional breeding, 10 origins breeding 43 new varieties through mutation breeding, and seven origins breeding 12 new varieties through cross breeding method. They are used mainly to improve yield, disease resistance, and active ingredient content, but only a few new varieties have been widely used. This review will provide useful references in variety breeding, quality breeding, and standardized planting of RR-TCM.
Plant Breeding/methods* ; Plant Roots/growth & development* ; Rhizome/growth & development* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Plants, Medicinal/classification* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Analyzing the spatial distribution pattern and formation factors of medicinal plant resources can provide a scientific basis for the protection and development of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) resources. This study is based on the survey data of medicinal plant resources in 104 county-level administrative regions of Anhui province in the Fourth National Survey of TCM Resources. The global spatial autocorrelation analysis, trend surface analysis, local spatial autocorrelation analysis, hotspot analysis, and a geodetector were employed to analyze the spatial distribution pattern of medicinal plant richness, and its relationship with natural factors was explored. The results can provide a basis for the formulation of development strategies such as the protection and utilization of TCM resources, as well as offer a scientific foundation for the establishment of regional planning schemes for TCM resources in Anhui province. The results indicated that the richness of medicinal plant resources in Anhui province had significant spatial heterogeneity, exhibiting highly clustered distribution characteristics. Cold spots and hot spots presented clustered distribution patterns, with cold spots mostly located north of the Huaihe River and hot spots south of the Yangtze River. Overall, the distribution of medicinal plant resources in Anhui province showed an overall trend of high in the south and low in the north, which was consistent with the overall geomorphic trend of this province. In addition, natural factors such as altitude, precipitation, and vegetation type played an important role in the diversity and spatial distribution pattern formation of medicinal plant resources. The extraction and analysis of the spatial distribution characteristics of natural factors in cold and hot spot regions discovered that the heterogeneity of eco-environments constituted a fundamental condition for the formation of species diversity.
Plants, Medicinal/classification* ; China ; Spatial Analysis ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Biodiversity

The HDAs (a subfamily of histone deacetylases), a class of Zn²⁺-dependent histone deacetylases, are highly homologous to the reduced potassium dependency 3 (RPD3) in yeast. HDAs extensively regulate chromosome stability, gene transcription, and protein activity by catalyzing the removal of acetyl group from histone and non-histone lysine residues. HDA-mediated deacetylation is essential for plant growth, development, and responses to abiotic stress. We review the research progress in HDAs regarding the discovery, structures, classification, deacetylation process, and roles in regulating plant responses to abiotic stress. Furthermore, this paper prospects the future research on HDAs, aiming to provide theoretical support for the research on epigenetic regulation mediated by HDAs.
Histone Deacetylases/classification* ; Zinc/metabolism* ; Stress, Physiological/physiology* ; Plants/genetics*

Artemisia argyi is a perennial herbaceous herb of the Artemisia family, with leaves for medical use. However, the germplasm of A. argyi is seriously unclear and mixed during production, and it is urgent to protect new varieties of A. argyi. The distinctness, uniformity, and stability(DUS) testing of the new varieties of plants is the basis for the protection of new varieties of plants, and the development of the DUS testing guidelines is the technical basis for DUS testing. To develop the DUS testing guidelines of A. argyi, A. argyi of 100 germplasm was used as the research objects, and their agronomic and medicinal quality characters were observed and measured during six growth stages, and each character was graded and described. A total of 53 test characters were determined, including 19 characters that must be tested; there were four plant characters, two rhizome characters, five stem characters, three branching characters, 29 leaf characters, three floral characters, five medicinal quality characters, and two other characters. It also involved 16 quality characters, 22 quantitative characters, and 15 pseudo-quantitative characters. Seven grouping characters were determined from 53 characters, including "emergence period" "plant-plant type" "branching-primary branching site" "stem-color" "middle leaf-number of leaf splits" "budding period", and "plant-height". By searching for standard characters, 16 standard varieties were ultimately determined. The preparation of this guideline was of great significance for the review and protection of new A. argyi varieties, the protection of breeders' rights, and the promotion of the development of A. argyi industry.
Artemisia/chemistry* ; Plant Leaves/chemistry* ; Quality Control ; Plants, Medicinal/classification* ; Guidelines as Topic

With the development of molecular pharmacognosy, the advantages of DNA molecular markers in the identification of original plants of Chinese medicinal materials are becoming increasingly significant. To compensate for the limitations of existing markers in the quality supervision of Chinese medicinal materials, our team has independently designed a new molecular marker named DNA signature sequence(DSS). This marker is a nucleotide sequence that only appears in a specific taxonomic unit, with a length of 40 bp and high identification accuracy. This article aims to screen and verify the DSS markers that can accurately identify the original plants of the medicinal materials included in the volume one of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, establish the operating procedure for developing standard nucleotide sequences, and lay a foundation for the widespread application of polymerase chain reaction in the quality supervision of traditional Chinese medicine. Firstly, the Chloroplast Genome Information Resource(CGIR) was searched for the chloroplast genome sequences of the test samples, species of the same genus, and common background species. IdenDSS was used to obtain the DSS tags and specific identification primers of the tested species. After DNA extraction, PCR amplification, sequencing, and sequence alignments, a total of 203 DSS markers of Chinese medicinal materials were obtained for validation. The above sequences were uploaded to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Molecular Identification Platform(www.herbsdna.com), and a standard DSS library was established for identifying the original plants of medicinal materials, serving as an important tool for quality supervision of Chinese materia medica. On this basis, an operating procedure for DSS development is formed, laying a foundation for further DSS screening and application based on more diverse genome sequences.
Plants, Medicinal/classification* ; DNA, Plant/genetics* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Pharmacopoeias as Topic ; Genetic Markers ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

The chloroplast genome is an important tool for studying plant classification, evolution, and the heterologous production of secondary metabolites and protein drugs. With advancements in sequencing technology and reductions in sequencing costs, chloroplast genome data have rapidly accumulated. However, existing chloroplast genome databases suffer from issues such as incomplete data, inadequate management, and inconsistent, inaccurate information, posing significant challenges for the development and utilization of the chloroplast genome. Therefore, it is urgently necessary to establish a database that provides comprehensive and reliable chloroplast genome information. This article provides a brief introduction to the Chloroplast Genome Information Resource(CGIR), the most comprehensive chloroplast genome database globally in terms of species coverage. The database, consisting of five modules, i.e.,(1) genomes,(2) genes,(3) simple sequence repeats(SSRs),(4) DNA barcodes, and(5) DNA signature sequences(DSSs), currently includes 34 923 chloroplast genome assemblies from 16 717 species. Based on the functionalities of these modules, the article systematically summarizes the progress in the application of the database in plant phylogenetic analysis, species identification, and chloroplast genetic engineering. The chloroplast genome database will be continuously updated in the future to provide a solid and reliable data foundation for chloroplast genome research, further promoting studies on traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)identification, resource conservation, and germplasm innovation.
Genome, Chloroplast ; Plants/classification* ; Databases, Genetic ; Phylogeny ; Chloroplasts/genetics*

Dao-di herbs are the Chinese herbs which have high quality and best clinic effects. Sichuan is one of the proviences most rich in Chinese herb resources,which has 7 290 species of Chinese herbs, such as Curcumae Longae Rhizoma, Chuanxiong Rhizoma, Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata, Ophiopogonis Radix, Coptidis Rhizoma, Gentianae Radix, Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, Curcumae Rhizoma, Gardeniae Fructus, ect. After textual research on materia medica of the 7 290 Chinese herbs, we find there are 86 Dao-di herbs in Sichuan, such as Chuanxiong Rhizoma from Dujiangyan, Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata from Jiangyou, Fritillariae Radix, Notoptergii Rhizoma et Radix, Angelicae Dahuricae Radix from Suining, Ophiopogonis Radix from Santai, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma from Zhongjiang, Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex from Pingwu. In China more attention is paid to the production of Dao-di herbs. In 2018, the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine launched the "Construction Plan of national production base of genuine medicinal materials". Developing genuine medicinal materials in genuine production areas is one of the effective ways to ensure the quality of medicinal materials. Based on the study of geographical environment and ecological factors(altitude, climate, soil) in Sichuan province. The Dao-di herbs of Sichuan province are divided into 4 districts, including, Sichuan basin medicinal materials production area, mountain and the basin edge medicinal materials production area, Panxi medicinal materials production area, Plateau Mountain Canyon medicinal materials production area. The suitable regions and best suitable regions of the 86 Dao-di herbs in Sichuan are determined by remote sensing and GIS spatial analysis of the suitable environmental indicators of these Dao-di herbs. Our study is beneficial to the rational distribution of the production and to improvement of the quality of traditional Chinese medicine in Sichuan province.
China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal/classification*

Indigenous knowledge and traditional culture for sustainable use of native plants in Juenang cultural region of Rangtang county, Aba Zang and Qiang Prefecture of Sichuan province, have been characterized in this paper followed the principles and methods of ethnobotany. The results indicate that 38 species from 27 families(including 6 species of fungi) are ethnobotanically used commonly in this area. Of 38 species of the native plants, 13 species from 12 families are collected for eatables and vegetables, 12 families and 16 species of indigenous plants for medicinal and edible use, 4 species from 4 families for decoration, 4 species from 4 families used for building materials or firewood, and 1 species from 1 families used for religious folklore. Under the influence of Juenang culture and Tibetan culture, indigenous knowledge such as instinctive reverence and gratitude for nature, protection ecological environment and habitats, and moderate use of natural resources(especially wild bioresource), have been gotten passed on from generation to generation in Juenang culture region of Rangtang county, which is of great significance to the protection of local bioresources and environment, including ethnic medicinal plants, and also to provide practical guidance for biodiversity conservation and ecological restoration in those alpine ecological vulnerable areas.
Biodiversity ; China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Ethnobotany ; Fungi/classification* ; Humans ; Knowledge ; Phytotherapy ; Plants, Medicinal/classification*

As a treasure of traditional Chinese medicine culture,Dao-di herbs are famous for their high quality and good effect.However,traditional characteristics of Dao-di herbs and their producing areas are mostly confined to qualitative description,lacking objective evaluation indicators. Numerical taxonomy,which uses mathematical methods to improve the research of taxonomy from qualitative description to quantitative comprehensive analysis,is objective and accurate,so is widely used in the field of biology and medicine.This paper reviews the concept and main research fields of numerical taxonomy,and summarizes its application status and development prospects in the study of Dao-di herbs and characteristics of production areas,in order to lay the foundation for the objectification and standardization of Dao-di herbs.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; classification ; standards ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification

"Qi medicinal herbs" in China refers to a kind of regional national folk herbs related to the treatment of five labors and seven injuries,the last word of which is "Qi". Our study is to sort out and standardize the name and basic confused varieties through the establishment of " Qi medicinal herbs" VFP information database. " Qi medicinal herbs" variety sorting model of " literature research-variety survey-data mining-spatial distribution" was developed by means of literature analysis which the names and varieties of " Qi medicinal herbs" in the literature were summarized and sorted out. The relationship between the distribution of " Qi medicinal herbs" resources and the use of ethnic groups were visualized by Cytoscape 2. 8. 0 software. The information database of " Qi medicinal herbs" involved in 230 kinds of medicinal materials which including 211 species of plants( including varieties) from 66 families. Medicinal materials standard in China have 9 kinds of " Qi medicinal herbs". Among them,there are 31 kinds of " Qi medicinal herbs" with the confusion of " the different names of the same" and " the different substance of the same names". The most used ethnic groups are Tujia,Qiang and Miao. The main efficacy is clearing heat and detoxification,dispelling wind and removing dampness,etc.,and the main treatment is for injury,rheumatic arthralgia and so on. Names and varieties of " Qi medicinal herbs" among Chinese ethnic groups and folk are standardized and sorted out,which is served to promotethe " Qi medicinal herbs" reasonable protection and utilization of resources,and provide effective reference for exploring the information technology and geographical distribution of ethnic medicine and standardizing clinical medication.
China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; standards ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; Qi ; Terminology as Topic