News
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2026-05-01Phylogeographic Patterns and Underlying Mechanisms of a Mycoheterotrophic Plant in Subtropical ChinaPlastome and microsatellite data reveal strong population structure but low genetic diversity in the fully mycoheterotrophic herb Burmannia nepalensis across subtropical China. Multiple glacial refugia and a recent population decline highlight the roles of geographic isolation, climatic history, and human disturbance in shaping subtropical fores... Subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests represent one of the world’s major biodiversity hotspots. Compared with trees and shrubs, however, the evolutionary history of understory herbs remains poorly understood, particularly for mycoheterotrophic plants that rely on fungi for nutrition. These plants lack photosynthetic capacity and depend hea...Read More -
2026-05-01First Discovery of Nationally Protected Yichang Wild Orange in GuangdongIn April 2026, a wild population of the nationally second-class protected Yichang Wild Orange (Citrus cavaleriei) was documented for the first time in Lechang City, Guangdong Province, marking a significant expansion of its known distribution southward. This discovery provides valuable genetic resources and new biogeographic insights for citrus ... Recently, significant news emerged from Guangdong Province's biodiversity survey efforts. In April 2026, a research team from the South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, focusing on plant taxonomy and diversity, documented for the first time a wild population of the Yichang Wild Orange (Citrus cavaleriei), a nationally second-...Read More -
2026-04-28The Microbial Mechanisms by Which Spartina alterniflora Invasion Weakens Carbon Sequestration in Coastal WetlandsSpartina alterniflora has rapidly expanded in China’s coastal wetlands, but its effects on methane emissions remain unclear. Using one-year in situ monitoring and integrated biogeochemical and microbial analyses, this study shows that Spartina invasion increases soil methane emissions by enhancing labile organic matter and altering methane-cycl... Spartina alterniflora is one of the most rapidly expanding invasive plant species in China’s coastal wetlands over recent decades. Owing to its fast growth rate and substantial organic matter inputs, this species has the potential to profoundly alter soil carbon cycling processes. However, whether and how S. alterniflora invasion modifies metha...Read More -
2026-04-27Nitrogen Form Regulation for Soil Nutrients and Vegetation Restoration on Tropical Coral IslandsThe form of nitrogen fertilizer significantly impacts its efficacy, yet the optimal form for tropical coral islands remains unclear. This study found that nitrate-nitrogen provides greater benefits to both the soil properties and plant growth on these islands. Tropical coral island soils suffer from high alkalinity and poor nutrient holding capacity, making nitrogen a critically limiting factor for plant life. While traditional restoration efforts often involve heavy fertilizer use, this approach risks severe nitrogen loss and environmental damage. Recently, a team from the Xiaoliang Research Station ...Read More -
2026-04-21Researchers Revealed High Economic and Ecological Returns from Coastal Wetland Restoration in ChinaChina's coastal wetlands have suffered from extensive degradation due to human activities, but our study reveals significant economic returns from restoration efforts, with substantial blue carbon gains and enhanced ecosystem service values. Supported by the coastal wetland restoration projects across 2000-2020 in China, the analysis shows benef... Amidst growing concerns over wetland degradation and biodiversity loss, a recent study by the South China Botanical Garden has provided compelling evidence that China's investment in coastal wetland restoration yields substantial ecological and economic returns. Focusing on 237 projects spanning from 2000 to 2020, the research team conducted a r...Read More -
2026-04-13Silicon vs carbon：divergence in defensive strategies of two congeneric trees across subtropical forest elevationsComparing traits of two Castanopsis species revealed that: from high to low elevations, C. eyrei prioritized C-based defenses but reduced NSCs, whereas C. lamontii primarily accumulated Si without altering NSCs. These findings implied the species-specific acclimation mechanisms of the subtropical trees to warming and highlighted the key role of ... —— Interspecific differences in defense strategies of dominant tree species in subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forestsInter- and intra-specific variation of plant functional traits reflect the response and adaptability of plants to environment change and benefit plants’ growth and defense under different habitats. Elevational gradient with...Read More -
2026-03-25Long-term N and P addition reshapes multi-element allocation patterns and network interaction in South China plantation treesLong-term N and P addition altered the allocation of mineral elements in tissues. Moreover, it modified the network relationships among mineral elements in trees. Nitrogen (N) deposition disrupts mineral element dynamics, exacerbating phosphorus (P) limitation and inducing multiple nutrient imbalances. Although P addition is widely adopted to mitigate these negative effects by enhancing P availability, how multi-mineral elements in tropical trees respond to N and/or P addition remains poorly understood, p...Read More -
2026-03-23Decode Cold Tolerance Difference Mechanism in Banana - Fruit from A Large Herbal PlantThis study explored the molecular mechanism by which Cu-miRNA regulates the difference in cold tolerance between AAA type (Cavendish) and ABB type (Pisang Awak) banana fruits. It was confirmed that the differential expression of MaSPL4/5 were the key factor determining the differential accumulation of Cu-miRNA in these two types of banana fruits... Chinese researchers have uncovered the molecular mechanism underlying the cold tolerance difference in banana, fruit from a large herbal plant that could play a role in global food security.The study, conducted by researchers at the South China Botanical Garden under the Chinese Academy of Sciences and collaborators, was recently published in Jo...Read More