Here we discuss the need to strengthen basic research in plant science and the impact of basic research in plant science on agricultural development to better serve the agricultural needs of China. Special emphasis is on promoting international competition, knowledge innovation, technology development and research platforms, as well as classical disciplines such as plant taxonomy. During the past 10 years, we have witnessed significant progress in plant sciences by Chinese scientists. As more talent is returning to China, more governmental support is needed to further strengthen plant science research in China.

We measured the light transmittance, reflectance and photosynthetic capacity of leaves of Mikania micrantha and 19 other species of plants (herbal and woody sp.) in the same community. M. micrantha and other plants were similar in transmittance and reflectance spectra and showed no apparent differences in the relation between leaf-optical and photosynthetic-related in the same community. On average, the leaf reflectance and leaf transmittance were higher for this weed than for herbs and then woody species, and the optical vegetation parameters of SR680, SR750 and PRI were lower for M. micrantha than for other herbs and woody species. However, the photosynthetic capacity of M. micrantha (light use efficiency , photosynthetic water-use efficiency, electron transportation rate and net photosynthetic rate) was close to or somewhat higher than that of other species. Moreover, leaves of M. micrantha reflected or transmitted much more light in summer than in winter, which favors the release of redundant light in summer and absorption of more light in winter. These strategies for light utilization by M. micrantha adapt to the strong light environment above the vegetation surface (where M. micrantha is generally grown) , and may favor the rapid invasion of this weed in new habitats.

RACK1 is a scaffold protein with versatile functions and plays important roles in the regulation of plant growth and development. transgenic rice (Oryza sativa), with the expression of OsRACK1 anti-sense construct, was used to study possible functions of OsRACK1 in response of rice to drought stress. Real-time PCR analysis showed that the expression of OsRACK1 in transgenic rice plants was reduced by more than 50%. The tolerance to drought stress was stronger in transgenic than in nontransgenic rice plants. The epioxidation of membrane and production of malonaldehyde were significantly lower and the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly higher in transgenic plants than in non-transgenic plants. OsRACK1 may negatively regulates tolerance of rice to drought stress , which is associated with the redox system in rice.

Cross-breeding experiments were carried out between 6 Tulipa gesneriana cultivars and 5 botanical Tulipa species from Xinjiang. The mean, maximum and minimum rates of fecundation were (84.8±3.5)%, 100.0% and (53.3±4.5)%, respectively. T. gesneriana ‘Kees Nelis’had the highest mean rate of fecundation (94.0±2.3)% and T. gesneriana ‘Monte Carlo’ the lowest (71.0±3.8)%. The highest rate of fruit bearing within 30 days after crossing was 100.0% and the mean rate was (75.2±4.1)% but decreased to (90.0±3.6)% and (47.0±3.4)%, respectively after 60 days. The mean rate of seed setting among the combinations was 24.3%. Both the effect of the 5 male parents and the difference among the 5 male parents on the cross characteristics were not significant, whereas the 6 female parents and the combinations of parents had significant effects on the cross characteristics. The favorable combinations were T. gesneriana ‘Negrita’×T. iliensis Regel, T. gesneriana ‘Negrita’×T. buheseana Boiss, and T. gesneriana ‘Negrita’×T. tianschanica Regel, with rates of seed setting being 78.2%, 68.4% and 57.5%, respectively.

The Arabidopsis MALE STERILITY2 (MS2) gene is required for anther and pollen development; sequence analysis indicated that the OsMS2 (Os03g07140) gene shares high similarity with MS2 in Arabidopsis. Here, we describe the functional analysis of OsMS2 in rice anther development by the RNA interference approach. Transgenic lines with the introduced gene expressing double-stranded RNA with the OsMS2 DNA fragment grew normally during their vegetative phase but displayed reduced male fertility. The reduced fertility phenotypes were as sociatedwith down-regulated OsMS2 transcript levelmediated by RNAi. Further cytological observations of the anthers of transgenic lines showed that knock-down of OsMS2 led to delayed tapetumdegeneration and abnormal microspores in the anther. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the microspores could not form normal exine. Thus, OsMS2 is an AtMS2 homologue and plays an important role in rice anther development.

We compared the characteristics of photosynthesis and photosynthetic induction in an epiphytic fern (Neottopteris nidus) and a terrestrial fern (Asplenium finlaysonianum) in the understory of the Xishuangbanna tropical rainforest to study the light-fleck utilization strategy in the two eco-type ferns. Maximum photosynthetic rate, dark respiration, apparent quantum yield,light saturation point and light compensation point did not differ between the two fern species. However, maximum stomatal conductance was higher in A. finlaysonianum than in N. nidus, which indicates better photosynthetic water-use efficiency in the latter species. Compared to N. nidus, A. finlaysonianum had a higher initial stomatal conductance on exposure to low light (20 mmol.m-2.s-1) for 30 min after 3 h dark adaptation. The time required to reach 50% (T50%) and 90% (T90%) maximal net photosynthetic rate in A. finlaysonianum was shorter than that in N. nidus (T50% 0.57 and 5.31 min, T90% 5.85 and 26.33 min in A. finlaysonianum and N. nidus, respectively).Attaining maximal stomatal conductance significantly lagged behind the increase in net photosynthetic rate during the induction course. The time required to reach maximum stomatal conductance was longer in N. nidus than in A.finlaysonianum, but the ferns did not differ in maintaining capacity of photosynthetic induction during induction loss. Thus, water conservation takes priority over carbon gain in N. nidus, which limits the use of light flecks for CO2 fixation in this epiphytic fern as compared to most terres trial understory plants such as A. finlaysonianum.

Cistanche deserticola, a kind of root parasitic psammophyte, is an endangered rare Chinese traditional medicine plant. We performed artificial culture and induction of C. deserticola to study seed germination, haustorium generation and morphologic development by optical microscopy and scanning electronmic roscopy. The results showed the following: (1) Artificial culture could produce seed germination, and embryo of C. deserticola showed polarity, with the micropyle cells being smaller than the chalazal ends and differentiated into white radicle-like organs.(2) The primary haustorium can be induced by some chemicals. After culture in 2,6-dimethoxyl pbenzoquinone for 24-26 h, the anterior part extended, formed the protuberance, then transformed into a root hair-like structure called primary haustorium.(3) C. deserticola is an active parasitic plant, and secondary haustorium or iginated after adhesion between the primary haustorium and young roots of the host. Co-culture with Haloxylon ammodendron, the primary haustorium conglutinate with young roots of the host (0.1 mm), pass through the host's epidermis and cortex , then connect with the vascular bundle and transform into secondary haustorium, shaped by fundamental tissues of differentiation and development. The development of horizontal growth of the parasitized host was quickened, and the same time, C. deserticola began to differentiate and develop. (4) C. deserticola can be a parasite anywhere in young roots (0.1 mm) of a host.

Glutathione transferase (GST) and cysteine synthase (CS) play an important role in plant elimination of active oxygen (reactive oxygen species, ROS). RT-PCR analysis of GST and CS in Polygonum sibiricum Laxm. showed remarkable change in expression induced by 3% NaHCO3 stress. We transformed GST, CS and the GST+CS combination into yeast cells(Saccharomyces cerevisiae), designated transgenic yeast (ty) ty-gst, ty-cs and ty-gc. The survival rate of ty-gst, ty-cs and ty-gc was higher than that of wild-type yeast (wy) under 1 mol.L-1 Na2CO3 and 5 mol.L-1 NaCl stress, with essentially no difference in rate between the three tys. With 0.4 mol.L-1 NaCl, the activity of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), SOD2, glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1) and GPX3 were lower and that of catalase 1 (CTA1) higher in ty than in wy. However, the activity of the ty-cs SOD, CAT and GPX showed the highest with 0.4 mol.L-1 NaCl stress.

The auxin receptor TIR1, which can directly bind to auxin through the formation of the SCFTIR1 complex , is the key protein in the Aux /IAA degradation pathway of the 26S proteasome. In this research, we designed a specific primer according to the results of a BLAST search of bioinformatics data; the super hybrid rice parental line 1S was used as the plant material. After RT-PCR and T-A cloning, a 2 219 bp cDNA sequence was obtained through sequencing. Its open reading frame (ORF) was 1 764 bp long and coded for a polypeptide of 587 amino acids. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the polypeptide shares 77% similarity with AtTIR1. Both polypeptides contain an F-box motif and a leucine-rich repeat domain but no transmembrane helices or signal peptide. The cDNA sequence was designated as OsTIR1 and submitted to GenBank.

In this research, we used a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population of 111 lines derived from a cross of Reyan2 (Oryza sativa subsp. japonica ‘Reyan2’)/ Milyang23 (Oryza sativa subsp. indica ‘Milyang23’) by the single-seed descent method to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) conferring resistance to rice stripe virus (RSV). Reactions of the two parents and the 111 RILs to RSV were investigated by natural methods of viral infection in the field and scored by disease index . QTL for resistance to RSV was analyzed by QTL Cartographer software. Chromosomes 2 and 11 each revealed one QTL controlling RSV resistance. The phenotypic variance explained by the QTL on chromosome 11 was 19.58%, so the locus is a major effective one controlling resistance to RSV and should be useful in breeding rice for resistance to RSV in a marker-assisted selection program.

The plant Tripterygium wilfordii (Thunder of God Vine) is the basis for a traditional Chinese medicine and is found in Zhejiang, Fujian, Hunan,Hubei and Guiz hou provinces, along the Yangtze River. We analyzed the correlation between the content of the secondary metabolite celastrol and environmental factors among 160 individuals of six populations of the plant. The difference in celastrol content was relatively high among populations (max. 1.058 5×10-2g.g-1 in Huangyan,Hunan Province; min.4.988 7×10-3 g.g-1 in Taining, Fujian Province) and relatively low within populations, which indicates that environmental conditions greatly influenced the content of celastrol in T. wilfordii. Regression analysis further revealed a significant negative correlation between celastrol content (Y) and annual sun shine duration (X1), annual rainfall (X2) and N content in soil (X5) (Y=19.308-0.01X1-0.02X2-0.062X5, R=0.917, F=276.561), which indicates the influence of these environmental factors on the content of celastrol in the plant. A strategy to maximize celastrol content is recommended.

Hyperspectral vegetation indices, which have fine spectra, can be used to detect the subtle physiological and environmental changes in vegetation. Therefore, use of the indices opens up an avenue for precise measurement for agriculture, especially for chlorophyll levels and leaf area index. However, a number of vegetation indices are not linearly related to biochemical components, so these indices may not be appropriate for other vegetative areas. We selected two different scale parameters, leaf chlorophyll content and leaf area index, on the basis of the radiative transfer models PROSPECT and SAIL, respectively, for sensitivity study of a set of indices (NDVI, MSR and MCARI). We aimed to improve the linearity between the indices for chlorophyll content and leaf area index on the basis of combinations of different wave bands. The sensitivity study of chlorophyll content revealed that for all the three kinds of indices, replacing the reflectance of 800 nm/700 nm and 670 nm with 750 nm and 705 nm, respectively can successfully improve the linearity limits of all vegetation indices. A nearly linear relationship is achieved between the index of MCARI705 and the chlorophyll content. Sensitivity study of leaf area index revealed that the index of MCARI705 can better alleviate the saturation problem of leaf area index changes. On comparing other indices, an obvious saturated region emerges for MCARI705 only when leaf area index exceeds 8. In general, different waveband selection (replacing 800 nm/700 nm and 670 nm with 750 nm and 705 nm, respectively) does not guarantee improvement of the linearity of indices with increased leaf area index as compared with chlorophyll content because of the complicated structure of the canopy.

To investigate the successful introduction of Abies concolor in an area, we surveyed several indices representing drought resistance under simulated conditions of drought. We used 6-month-old seedlings of nine provenances of A. concolor and three species of domestic firs: A. holophylla, A. fabric and A. squamata. Results were analyzed for determining the best area for growth of A. concolor.

Combining spatial large-scale survey and selective plot investigation, we examined the distribution and diameter at breast height (DBH) of Populus euphratica trees in 100 hm2 of the Argan transect in the lower reaches of the Tarim River, NW China. Within 20 m of the river, the proportion of young trees with DBH<4 cm was the greatest, at 13.24%. With increasing distance from the river, the proportion of young trees gradually dwindles. DBH distribution is simple; the proportion of trees with DBH ranging from 16 to 36 cm is the greatest in the forest. In addition, the further from the river, the higher the proportion of the over-mature forests and effete forests, with DBH > 48 cm. Within 200 m of the river is 80% of the popluar forest of P. euphratica trees with high vitality, with crown density 0-50%. From 200 to 400 m of the river, the proportion of over-mature forests and effete forests with trees of crown density between 50% and 75% and lower vitality begins to increase. At more than 400 m from the river, the density of P. euphratica begins to decrease greatly , with the proportion<5%.

Suspension culture of Acer ginnala was established with cotyledonsus ed as explants. WPM was used for callus induction and callus proliferation. In suspension culture, dry weight increased to 11.6 and gallic acid content to 1.518%. The effects of the media NT, IS, WPM, B5 and MS on growth and gallic acid content of A. ginnala in callus suspension culture were compared. WPM was best for growth of suspension cells and accumulation of gallic acid. The effect increased with the levels of major elements, and a three-fold increase in level of major elements gave the best result. Sucrose at 10 g·L-1 was suitable for the accumulation of gallic acid, and 30 g·L-1 was optimal for cell growth and production of gallic acid.

The composition, structure and accumulation of rice starch are key factors affecting grain quality and yield. Therefore, the key enzymes involved in the formation of rice starch need to be studied. With the development of molecular biology techniques, research into rice starch quality has made extensive progress. This review summarizes the progress of these key enzymes, including ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, starch synthase, starch branching enzyme and de-branching enzyme, and their roles involved in rice starch biosynthesis. Prospects for future research are also discussed.