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Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), offers a promising avenue for mitigating CO2 emissions, in which the big challenge is the high CO2 capture cost. A novel CCUS technology called once-through CO2 chemical absorption using biogas slurry, could potentially reduce the CO2 capture cost through decreasing the energy consumption greatly during CO2 capture. This technology, however, is constrained by the CO2 absorption capacity of biogas slurry. To enhance the CO2 capture capacity of this innovative technology, we proposed a method to enhance CO2 absorption by integrating biochar into biogas slurry. Results indicated that the CO2 absorption capacity of biogas slurry improved by biochar varied with the type of biochar adopted. Among all the investigated biochar, the wood biochar like sea buckthorn and sand willow exhibited the lowest CO2 capture enhancement, with 0.82±0.19 mmol/g and 0.81±0.30 mmol/g, respectively. Biochar from C4 plants like corn stalks and cobs demonstrated the highest enhancement, with 2.11±0.24 mmol/g and 2.47±0.86 mmol/g, respectively. The enhancement driven by C3 plant biochar like millet stalks and shells was intermediate, with 1.62±0.47 mmol/g and 1.62±0.46 mmol/g, respectively. The primary factor for promoting CO2 absorption in the biochar-based biogas slurry was the increase in pH of biogas slurry. The total pore volume of biochar was the principal material property that enhanced CO2 absorption, followed by the EC and BET surface areas of biochar. Increasing the carbonization temperature of biochar could also enhance the CO2 absorption capacity by biogas slurry. In CO2-rich biochar-based biogas slurry, CO2 primarily existed as HCO3− and carbamate. However, for the influence of the biochar's pore structure, CO2 in the CO2-rich biochar-based biogas slurry was more stable than that in CO2-rich biogas slurry.

Atractylodes chinensis has a high medicinal value and is widely cultivated. However, root rot disease seriously affects the yield and quality of A. chinensis. To develop green and safe pesticides, the inhibitory effect of essential oils (EOs) of three Labiatae plants on the pathogenic fungi that causes root rot disease in Atractylodes chinensis was investigated. The results showed that the Origanum vulgare EO and Thymus mongolicus EO exhibited strong inhibitory effects on Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, and Fusarium redolens, with 100% inhibition rate. The low MIC values of EOs and their main components against the three pathogenic fungi indicated that all of them showed strong fungicidal effects. The MIC values of O. vulgare EO against F. oxysporum, F. solani, and F. redolens were 2.60 mg/mL, 3.13 mg/mL, and 1.56 mg/mL, respectively. Analyses using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the O. vulgare EO severely damaged the cell wall and cell membrane of mycelial cells. The O. vulgare EO increased cell permeability, leading to a large leakage of cell contents (DNA and proteins). In addition, O. vulgare EO inhibited F. oxysporum by inducing ROS production and reducing the amount of intracellular GSH, leading to a large accumulation of ROS. This study showed that plant EOs have excellent fungicidal activity and can be used as novel natural and environmentally friendly pesticides for the control of root rot in A. chinensis.

Abstract Background Limited access to genetic information has greatly hindered our understanding of the molecular evolution, phylogeny, and differentiation time of subg. Amygdalus. This study reported complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequences of subg. Amygdalus, which further enriched the available valuable resources of complete cp genomes of higher plants and deepened our understanding of the divergence time and phylogenetic relationships of subg. Amygdalus. Results The results showed that subg. Amygdalus species exhibited a tetrad structure with sizes ranging from 157,736 bp (P. kansuensis) to 158,971 bp (P. davidiana), a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRa/IRb) that ranged from 26,137–26,467 bp, a large single-copy region that ranged from 85,757–86,608 bp, and a small single-copy region that ranged from 19,020–19,133 bp. The average GC content of the complete cp genomes in the 12 species was 36.80%. We found that the structure of the subg. Amygdalus complete cp genomes was highly conserved, and the 12 subg. Amygdalus species had an rps19 pseudogene. There was not rearrangement of the complete cp genome in the 12 subg. Amygdalus species. All 12 subg. Amygdalus species clustered into one clade based on both Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood. The divergence time analyses based on the complete cp genome sequences showed that subg. Amygdalus species diverged approximately 15.65 Mya. Conclusion Our results provide data on the genomic structure of subg. Amygdalus and elucidates their phylogenetic relationships and divergence time.

Viola prionantha belongs to the family Violaceae. It has been widely used for a traditional Chinese herb in China. We determined the complete chloroplast genome sequence of V. prionantha. The whole chloroplast genome was 156,501 bp in length, consisting of a pair of inverted repeats (IR) of 26,404 bp, each, a large single-copy (LSC) region of 85,689 bp, and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,004 bp. We annotated 131 genes, including 84 coding sequences, 8 rRNA sequences, 37 tRNA sequences, and 2 pesudogenes. Among the annotated genes Phylogenetic analysis revealed that V. prionantha and Viola seoulensis clustered together as sisters.

Abstract Background HMA4 transporters are involved in the transport and binding of divalent heavy metals (Cd, Zn, Pb [lead] and Co [cobalt]). In general, as efflux pumps, HMA4 transporters can increase the heavy metal tolerance of yeast and Escherichia coli. Additional research has shown that the C-terminus of HMA4 contains a heavy metal-binding domain and that heterologous expression of a portion of peptides from this C-terminal domain in yeast provides a high level of Cd tolerance and Cd hyperaccumulation. Results We cloned BjHMA4 from Brassica juncea, and quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that BjHMA4 was upregulated by Zn and Cd in the roots, stems and leaves. Overexpression of BjHMA4 dramatically affects Zn/Cd distribution in rice and wheat seedlings. Interestingly, BjHMA4 contains a repeat region named BjHMA4R within the C-terminal region; this repeat region is not far from the last transmembrane domain. We further characterized the detailed function of BjHMA4R via yeast and E. coli experiments. Notably, BjHMA4R greatly and specifically improved Cd tolerance, and BjHMA4R transformants both grew on solid media that contained 500 μM CdCl2 and presented improved Cd accumulation (approximately twice that of wild-type [WT] strains). Additionally, visualization via fluorescence microscopy indicated that BjHMA4R clearly localizes in the cytosol of yeast. Overall, these findings suggest that BjHMA4R specifically improves Cd tolerance and Cd accumulation in yeast by specifically binding Cd2+ in the cytosol under low heavy metal concentrations. Moreover, similar results in E. coli experiments corroborate this postulation. Conclusion BjHMA4R can specifically bind Cd2+ in the cytosol, thereby substantially and specifically improving Cd tolerance and accumulation under low heavy metal concentrations.

Artemisia ordosica is one of the important plants in succession of psammophytes in sandy (desert), it is a high ecological, economic and scientific research value. The chloproplast is photosynthetic organelles that provide energy for green plants. In this study, we reported the complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequence of A. ordosica, which were assembled using high-throughput sequencing technology. The results showed that the total cpDNA genome of A. ordosica is 151,209 bp in length, consisting of a large single copy (LSC) region of 82,980 bp, a small single copy (SSC) region of 18,303 bp, and a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRa and IRb, 24,963 bp each). Among all genes, the content of GC is 37.4%. The LSC, SSC, and IRs are 58.44%, 12.10%, and 33.02% of the A. ordosica cpDNA genome length respectively. Furthermore, the genome contained a total of 113 genes, comprising 79 protein-coding genes, 4 rRNA genes, and 29 tRNA genes. A phylogenetic analysis based on 21cpDNA genomes suggested that the A.ordosica is closely related to A. scoparia.

Amygdalus nana is the research materials, and we used the Illumina HiSeq X Ten system to do sequencing, and used the complete chloroplast genomes of 12 species to constructed thephylogenetic tree. The results showed that the complete chloroplast genome of the A. nana was 158,596 bp in length, containing a largen single copy (LSC) region of 86,608 bp, a small single copy (SSC) region of 18,998 bp, and a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) region of 26,411 bp. The genome has a GC content of 36.7%. The LSC, SSC, and IR regions represent 54.61, 11.98, and 33.31% of the A. nana chloroplast genome length respectively. We annotated 130 genes, including 85 protein coding genes, 8 rRNA genes, and 37 tRNA genes. And the phylogenetic analysis suggested that the A. nana is closely related to A. mongolica.

Tribulus terrestris is an important traditional medicine in China, which is widely distributed in north China. Here, the chloroplast genome sequences were detected. The chloroplast genome of T. terrestris is circular-mapping molecule of 158,184 bp in size, which consisted of a pair of inverted repeat regions of 25,842 bp each, a large single copy region of 88,878 bp, and a small single copy region of 17,622 bp. A total of 129 genes were annotated, including 37 tRNA, 8 rRNA, and 84 protein-coding genes. Phylogenetic analysis showed T. terrestris clustered with Krameria lanceolate and Krameria bicolor.

Amygdalus ferganensis is a member of the family Rosaceae. In this paper, we report complete chloroplast genome sequences of A. ferganensis (Rosaceae). The results showed that A. ferganensis complete chloroplast genome comprises 158,365 bp, containing a largen single copy (LSC) region of 86,240 bp, a small single copy (SSC) region of 19,012 bp, and a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) region of 26,386 bp. The genome has a GC content of 42.6%. The LSC, SSC, and IR regions represent 54.46, 12.01, and 33.32% of the A. ferganensis chloroplast genome length. We annotated 112 genes, including 78 protein coding genes, 4 rRNAs, and 30 tRNAs. And A. ferganensis is closely the A. persica.

Helianthemum songaricum is an ecologically important endangered relic plant species growing in the arid and semi-arid regions of northwestern China. It is also a valuable germplasm resource. Consequently, we herein report the complete H. songaricum chloroplast genome, which comprises 152,042 bp, including a large single copy (LSC) region (84,389 bp) and a small single copy (SSC) region (18,926 bp) that are separated by a pair of 24,298-bp inverted repeats (IRs). The LSC, SSC, and IR regions account for 55.50%, 12.45%, and 31.96% of the chloroplast genome, respectively. Moreover, the GC content of this genome is 36.6%. Furthermore, the 110 annotated genes consist of 75 protein-coding genes, 4 rRNAs, and 31 tRNAs. A phylogenetic tree based on 14 chloroplast genomes revealed that H. songaricum is closely related to Clematoclethra scandens and Actinidia arguta.

Passive surveillance for malaria cases was conducted in Yunnan Province, China, along the China–Myanmar border. Infection with Plasmodium vivax and P. falciparum protozoa accounted for 69% and 28% of the cases, respectively. Most patients were adult men. Cross-border travel into Myanmar was a key risk factor for P. falciparum malaria in China.

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Metagentiana striata is an alpine annual herbaceous plant endemic to the east of the Qinghai–Tibet (Q–T) Plateau and adjacent areas. The phylogeography of M. striata was studied by sequencing the chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) trnS– trnG intergenic spacer. Ten haplotypes were identified from an investigation of 232 individuals of M. striata from 14 populations covering the entire geographical range of this species. The level of differentiation amongst populations was very high ( GST = 0.746; NST = 0.774) and a significant phylogeographical structure was observed ( P < 0.05). An analysis of molecular variance found a high variation amongst populations (76%), with FST = 0.762 (highly significant, P < 0.001), indicating that little gene flow occurred amongst the different regions; this was explained by the isolation of populations by high mountains along the Q–T Plateau and adjacent areas ( Nm = 0.156). Only one ancestral haplotype (A) was common and widespread throughout the distributional range of M. striata. The populations of the Hengduan Mountains region of the south-eastern Q–T Plateau showed high diversity and uniqueness of haplotypes. It is suggested that this region was the potential refugium of M. striata during the Quaternary glaciation, and that interglacial and postglacial range expansion occurred from this refugium. This scenario was in good agreement with the results of nested clade analysis, which inferred that the current spatial distribution of cpDNA haplotypes and populations resulted from range expansion, together with past allopatric fragmentation events. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 157, 125–140. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]