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Simple Summary: In recent years, there has been a severe shortage of crude protein feed resources for ruminants due to the rapid growth of the animal industry, with traditional feed resources such as alfalfa and soybean meal unable to meet this challenge because of production and price factors. Therefore, it is necessary to explore alternative protein feed resources. Broussonetia papyrifera silage, as a non-conventional protein feed resource, has significant potential. Thus, this study evaluated the effectiveness of Broussonetia papyrifera silage feed for ruminants by investigating its effect on the growth performance, blood parameters, immune response, antioxidant function, and rumen microbial community composition of Kazakh lamb. The findings indicate that Broussonetia papyrifera silage does not adversely affect the growth performance of these lambs; instead, it shows promise in enhancing immune response and antioxidant capacity while promoting a balanced rumen microbial ecology. Numerous studies have demonstrated that Broussonetia papyrifera is an unconventional feed resource with significant developmental potential. This research aimed to explore the effects of Broussonetia papyrifera silage on the growth performance, blood parameters, immunity, antioxidation, cytokine levels, and rumen bacterial composition of Kazakh lamb. Forty healthy male Kazakh lambs, aged 5 months and weighing 30.12 ± 1.14 kg, were randomly divided into control and experimental groups, each consisting of four replicates (five lambs per replicate). The control group was fed a basal diet, while the experimental group received a diet supplemented with 20% Broussonetia papyrifera silage (dry matter basis). Following a 10-day pre-feeding period, a 60-day formal experiment was conducted. The results indicated no significant difference in growth performance between the experimental and control groups. However, compared to the control group, the use of Broussonetia papyrifera silage significantly reduced (p < 0.05) neutrophil, lymphocyte, and eosinophil counts, as well as creatinine levels in the blood. Furthermore, Broussonetia papyrifera silage (p < 0.01) enhanced total serum antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, immunoglobulin A, immunoglobulin M, immunoglobulin G, interleukin-2, interleukin-6, and interleukin-8, and decreased malondialdehyde and interleukin-4 levels. Additionally, the use of Broussonetia papyrifera silage increased the diversity and richness of the rumen bacterial community, notably enhancing the relative abundance of Firmicutes such as Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group and Christensenellaceae_R-7_group. In conclusion, feeding Kazakh lamb with Broussonetia papyrifera silage (20% DM) did not adversely affect their growth performance but improved their immunity and antioxidant capacity and enhanced the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria in the rumen, thereby promoting animal health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents new records and noteworthy data on the following taxa in SE Europe and adjacent regions: cyanobacteria Pseudanabaena thermalis, lichenised fungi Acrocordia gemmata, parasitic fungi Peniophora tamaricicola, saprotrophic fungi Hyphonectria buxi, diatom alga Diatoma elongata, mosses Sphagnum medium, Rhizomnium magnifolium, and Weissia squarrosa, monocots Gymnadenia frivaldii, Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus, Orchis × angusticruris and Pistia stratiotes, and dicots Astragalus angustifolius subsp. balcanicus, Broussonetia papyrifera, Datura innoxia and Montia arvensis.

Paper Mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) possesses medicinal, economic, and ecological significance and is extensively used for feed production, papermaking, and ecological restoration due to its ease of propagation, rapid growth rate, and strong stress resistance. The recent completion of the sequencing of the Paper Mulberry genome has prompted further research into the genetic breeding and molecular biology of this important species. A highly stable reference gene is essential to enhance the quantitative analysis of functional genes in Paper Mulberry; however, none has been identified. Accordingly, in this study, the leaves, stems, roots, petioles, young fruits, and mature fruits of Paper Mulberry plants were selected as experimental materials, and nine candidate reference genes, namely, α-TUB1, α-TUB2, β-TUB, H2A, ACT, DnaJ, UBQ, CDC2, and TIP41, were identified by RT-qPCR. Their stability was assessed using the geNorm, Normfinder, Delta Ct, BestKeeper, and RefFinder algorithms, identifying ACT and UBQ as showing the greatest stability. The expression of BpMYB090, which regulates the production of trichomes, was examined in the leaves of plants of the wild type (which have more trichomes) and mutant (which have fewer trichomes) at various developmental stages to validate the results of this study. As a result, their identification addresses a critical gap in the field of Paper Mulberry research, providing a solid foundation for future research that will concentrate on the characterization of pertinent functional genes in this economically valuable species.

This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of Broussonetia papyrifera leaf water extract on the immunity and gut microflora of cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed mice. Forty female ICR mice were randomly divided into five groups (n = 8): the blank control (BC) group, the cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression model (CTX) group, and the low (BPL), medium (BPM), and high (BPH) dose B. papyrifera extract treatment groups. Broussonetia papyrifera leaf water extract was administered intragastrically to the BPL, BPM, and BPH groups at 2, 4, and 8 g/kg body weight, respectively, once a day for 14 d. From day 12, all except the BC group mice were injected with 50 mg/kg cyclophosphamide once a day for 3 d. Administering B. papyrifera leaf extract substantially enhanced the contents of white blood cells, lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, IgG, and IgM, compared with the CTX group. The B. papyrifera leaf extract also restored the gut microbiota composition by decreasing the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136 group, Roseburia, Lachnospiraceae_uncultured, Lachnoclostridium, and Anaerotruncus, and increasing the relative abundance of Bacteroidales_S24-7 group norank, Desulfovibrio, Akkermansia, Enterorhabdus, Blautia, and Romboutsia in the cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed mice. These findings suggest that B. papyrifera leaf extract can be used as an immunomodulator of the gut microbiota, with the potential to promote animal health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of China's livestock industry, the demand for protein feed has surged, underscoring the importance of developing and utilizing new types of feed. As a kind of high quality woody feed resource, Broussonetia papyrifera has the advantages of high yield, wide distribution, strong environmental adaptability, comprehensive nutrition and high protein content, and has been popularized and applied in many provinces and regions in across China. In order to make full use of the resources of Broussonetia papyrifera, the mixed silage of this plant can improve the palatability and nutrient utilization of the Broussonetia papyrifera feed, improve the growth performance of livestock and poultry, reduce the death rate, improve the intestinal microenvironment, and improve the meat quality. This paper summarizes the recent research progress on the evaluation of the nutritional value of Broussonetia papyrifera and its various processing methods for livestock and poultry feed, and comprehensively discusses the application of the Broussonetia papyrifera in animal breeding, in order to provide reference for the rational development and utilization of the Broussonetia papyrifera resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Broussonetia papyrifera is widely found in cadmium (Cd) contaminated areas, with an inherent enhanced flavonoids metabolism and inhibited lignin biosynthesis, colonized by lots of symbiotic fungi, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). However, the physiological and molecular mechanisms by which Rhizophagus irregularis, an AM fungus, regulates flavonoids and lignin in B. papyrifera under Cd stress remain unclear. Here, a pot experiment of B. papyrifera inoculated and non-inoculated with R. irregularis under Cd stress was carried out. We determined flavonoids and lignin concentrations in B. papyrifera roots by LC-MS and GC-MS, respectively, and measured the transcriptional levels of flavonoids- or lignin-related genes in B. papyrifera roots, aiming to ascertain the key components of flavonoids or lignin, and key genes regulated by R. irregularis in response to Cd stress. Without R. irregularis, the concentrations of eriodictyol, quercetin and myricetin were significantly increased under Cd stress. The concentrations of eriodictyol and genistein were significantly increased by R. irregularis, while the concentration of rutin was significantly decreased. Total lignin and lignin monomer had no alteration under Cd stress or with R. irregularis inoculation. As for flavonoids- or lignin-related genes, 26 genes were co-regulated by Cd stress and R. irregularis. Among these genes, BpC4H2, BpCHS8 and BpCHI5 were strongly positively associated with eriodictyol, indicating that these three genes participate in eriodictyol biosynthesis and were involved in R. irregularis assisting B. papyrifera to cope with Cd stress. This lays a foundation for further research revealing molecular mechanisms by which R. irregularis regulates flavonoids synthesis to enhance tolerance of B. papyrifera to Cd stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium (Cd) pollution poses a serious threat to various ecosystems, and phytoremediation is an alternate method for developing the soil health. To better utilize phytoremediation for Cd‐contaminated soil remediation, the ginkgo leaves, pine needles, and Eucommia bark were mixed and naturally fermented to obtain Ginkgo biloba–Pinus massoniana–Eucommia ulmoides (GPE) Jiaosu and Jiaosu residue, whose effects on Broussonetia papyrifera planted in Cd‐contaminated soil were evaluated. The results showed that the contents of the protein, phenolic, vitamin E, and alcohol of GPE Jiaosu were 4400 ± 0.46, 0.22 ± 0.01, 0.88 ± 0.24, and 4.63 ± 0.25 μL/mL, accordingly, with fine antioxidant activity. The soil pH, electrical conductivity content, organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, alkali‐hydrolyzable nitrogen, available phosphorus, and Cd concentration were all significantly (p < 0.05) modified. The chlorophyll content of B. papyrifera was increased by using Jiaosu residue in 12 hours, while the promotion effect of Jiaosu appeared in the later stage (60 days). The Cd tolerance physiological indexes such as malondialdehyde content and antioxidant enzymes' activity were all regulated. Applying the Jiaosu residue, the Cd in stems was decreased by 72.61% under 1000 mg/kg Cd treatment. These results suggested that GPE Jiaosu and Jiaosu residue can improve the properties of Cd‐contaminated soil, promote the Cd tolerance of B. papyrifera, and affect the Cd migration. The current study provides a new bioremediation method using the Jiaosu and Jiaosu residue as Cd environmental remediation materials in a recyclable pathway, which is a circular and healthy development concept that integrates economic, ecological, and social significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) L’Hér. ex Vent. has the characteristics of strong stress resistance, high crude protein content, and pruning tolerance. It is an ecological, economic, and medicinal plant. Polyploid plants usually perform better than their corresponding diploid plants in terms of nutrients, active substances, and stress resistance. Results In this study, the leaves, calli, and seeds of diploid B. papyrifera were used for tetraploid induction by colchicine. The induction effect of colchicine on B. papyrifera was summarized through the early morphology, chromosome count and flow cytometry. It was concluded that the best induction effect (18.6%) was obtained when the leaves of B. papyrifera were treated in liquid MS (Murashige and Skoog) medium containing 450 mg·L-1 colchicine for 3 d. The comparative analysis of the growth characteristics of diploid and tetraploid B. papyrifera showed that tetraploid B. papyrifera has larger ground diameter, larger stomata, thicker palisade tissue and thicker sponge tissue than diploid B. papyrifera. In addition, the measurement of photosynthetic features also showed that tetraploids had higher chlorophyll content and higher photosynthetic rates. Conclusion This study showed that tetraploid B. papyrifera could be obtained by treating leaves, callus and seeds with liquid and solid colchicine, but the induction efficiency was different. Moreover, there were differences in stomata, leaf cell structure and photosynthetic features between tetraploid B. papyrifera and its corresponding diploid. The induced tetraploid B. papyrifera can provide a technical basis and breeding material for the creation of B. papyrifera germplasm resources in the future.

Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) has a high sensitivity and strong specificity, and is widely used in the analysis of gene expression. Selecting appropriate internal reference genes is the key to accurately analyzing the expression changes of target genes by RT-qPCR. To find out the most suitable internal reference genes for studying the gene expression in Broussonetia papyrifera under abiotic stresses (including drought, salt, and ZnSO4 treatments), seven different tissues of B. papyrifera, as well as the roots, stems, and leaves of B. papyrifera under the abiotic stresses were used as test materials, and 15 candidate internal reference genes were screened based on the transcriptome data via RT-qPCR. Then, the expression stability of the candidate genes was comprehensively evaluated through the software geNorm (v3.5), NormFinder (v0.953), BestKeeper (v1.0), and RefFinder. The best internal reference genes and their combinations were screened out according to the analysis results. rRNA and Actin were the best reference genes under drought stress. Under salt stress, DOUB, HSP, NADH, and rRNA were the most stable reference genes. Under heavy metal stress, HSP and NADH were the most suitable reference genes. EIF3 and Actin were the most suitable internal reference genes in the different tissues of B. papyrifera. In addition, HSP, rRNA, NADH, and UBC were the most suitable internal reference genes for the abiotic stresses and the different tissues of B. papyrifera. The expression patterns of DREB and POD were analyzed by using the selected stable and unstable reference genes. This further verified the reliability of the screened internal reference genes. This study lays the foundation for the functional analysis and regulatory mechanism research of genes in B. papyrifera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broussonetia papyrifera is an important native tree species in China with strong adaptability, wide distribution and economic importance. Climate change is considered as the main threat to ecological processes and global biodiversity. Predicting the potential geographical distribution of B. papyrifera in future climate change scenarios will provide a scientific basis for ecological restoration in China. Principal component analysis and Pearson correlation analysis were conducted to select the environmental variables. The distribution and changes in the potential suitable area for B. papyrifera were predicted using the maximum entropy model and the CIMP6 dataset from 2041 to 2060. The current highly suitable areas for B. papyrifera were mainly located in Guangdong (5.60 × 104 km2), Guangxi (4.39 × 104 km2), Taiwan (2.54 × 104 km2) and Hainan (2.17 × 104 km2). The mean temperature of the coldest quarter (11.54–27.11 °C), precipitation of the driest quarter (51.48–818.40 mm) and precipitation of the wettest quarter (665.51–2302.60 mm) were the main factors limiting the suitable areas for B. papyrifera. The multi-modal average of the highly and the total suitable areas for B. papyrifera were 111.42 × 104 and 349.11 × 104 km2 in the SSP5-8.5 scenario, while those in the SSP1-2.6 scenario were 87.50 × 104 and 328.29 × 104 km2, respectively. The gained suitable areas for B. papyrifera will expand to the western and northern China in the future scenarios. The multi-model averaging results showed that the potential available planting area was 212.66 × 104 and 229.32 × 104 km2 in the SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios, respectively, when the suitable area within the farmland range was excluded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Forest Research is the property of Forest Research Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Binderless particleboards were prepared without any resin adhesives from Broussonetia papyrifera trunk by hot pressing. The effects of particle size, pressing time, pressing temperature and board density on the physical and mechanical properties of binderless boards were investigated. The effects of chemical changes in Broussonetia papyrifera binderless particleboards on the board properties were investigated by chemical, spectroscopic and cellulose crystallinity analyses. The bonding performance of the latex of Broussonetia papyrifera was discussed. The results showed: (1) the smaller size of the particle, the higher internal bonding (IB) strength and lower thickness swelling (TS) of the binderless board had. The modulus of rupture (MOR), the modulus of elasticity (MOE) and the IB values of the boards increased with the increase of board density. Within a certain range, the binderless boards manufactured at higher temperature and longer pressing time had better properties. Under the optimum board manufacturing condition of 220 ℃/30 min/1.0 g/cm3, the Broussonetia papyrifera binderless board recorded a MOR 28 MPa, MOE 5.3 GPa, IB 2.74 MPa and 24 h TS of 7.4%, which met the performance requirements of Chinese national standard for heavy-duty particleboard. (2) The degradation of cellulose and hemicellulose during hot pressing resulted in decrease of cellulose and hemicellulose content and increase of extractives. Some of the degradation products form new bonding to increase the bonding strength and dimensional stability of the binderless boards. (3) The formation of pseudo-lignin and increased C–O–C and cellulose crystallinity of the boards during hot pressing contributed to high quality of the binderless boards. (4) The poplar veneers bonded with the latex of Broussonetia papyrifera had a certain bonding strength (0.6 MPa), indicating the latex played a positive role in self-bonding of the Broussonetia papyrifera particleboard.

Introduction: The Yangtze vole (Microtus fortis) is a small herbivorous rodent that usually causes damage to crops and forests in China. Various measures were used to control their population including chemical rodenticides. However, rodenticides may cause secondary damage to the environment and the ecosystem. Therefore, the development of new rodent sterilants is urgent. Considering that some compounds of paper mulberry leaves have been verified that can inhibit the biosynthesis of sexual hormone, we aimed to explore the antifertility effect of paper mulberry leaves on M. fortis. Methods: In this study, voles were divided into three groups including a male group, a female group, and a breeding group, and paper mulberry leaves were added into basal fodder of voles maintained in laboratory, of which the proportion of leaf weight was 50%. In each group, voles were fed with mixed fodder as treatment (BP) and voles were fed with basal fodder as contrast (CK). Results and discussion: After feeding for more than 1 month, the results indicated that paper mulberry leaves attracted voles to feed, but inhibited their growth and reproduction. Since the second week, food intakes of BP have been significantly higher than CK (p< 0.05). However, weights of voles in male and female groups were 72.283 ± 7.394 g and 49.717 ± 2.278 g in the fifth week, and both were significantly reduced compared with their original weight (p< 0.05). Meanwhile, testicular volumes of male voles fed with BP were significantly smaller than CK (former: 318.000 ± 44.654 mm3, latter: 459.339 ± 108.755 mm3); the testosterone level, sperm number, and vitality of BP were obviously weaker than CK. Female uteruses and oophoron of BP grew slower, and the organ coefficients of uterus and oophoron fed BP were both significantly lower than CK (p< 0.05). The first reproduction of BP couple voles spent 45 days, while CK spent only 21 days. These results suggest that paper mulberry leaves could be the potential resource to produce sterilants to control rodent populations by delaying their sexual growth and reproduction. If it was practical, the apparent advantages of paper mulberry are that it is an abundant resource and the inhibitory effect could be effective in both male and female individuals. Our conclusion also supports the transformation of rodent management from lethal management to fertility control, which would be more ecologically friendly to agriculture and the ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was to study the effect of different proportions of Broussonetia papyrifera and alfalfa on fermentation quality and aerobic stability of TMR. The TMR was prepared with the ingredients of Broussonetia papyrifera, alfalfa, soybean meal, wheat bran, corn meal, brewer's lees, oat straw, premix and salt. Five experimental groups were set up, the proportions of alfalfa and Broussonetia papyrifera in TMR of group 1, group 2, group 3, group 4 and group 5 were 36∶0, 27∶9, 18∶18, 9∶27, 0∶36, respectively, with three replicates in each group. Anaerobic fermentation for 56 d. The results showed that the content of lactic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, ammonia nitrogen and water in fermented TMR increased with the increase of the proportion of Broussonetia papyrifera, but no butyric acid was detected, the content of soluble carbohydrate, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber decreased. The pH value and mycotoxin content of fermentation TMR in group 2 were the lowest, the aerobic stability was the highest, and the ammonia nitrogen/total nitrogen was below 5%. The study indicates that when the ratio of alfalfa to brachycarpus is 27∶9, it is suitable for making fermented TMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Hybrid Broussonetia papyrifera (BP) has been widely planted and commonly used as ruminant forage source after fermentation in China. Very less information is available to know the impact of fermented BP on laying hens, thus, we have investigated effects of dietary supplementation of Lactobacillus plantarum-fermented B. papyrifera (LfBP) on laying performance, egg quality, serum biochemical parameters, lipid metabolism, and follicular development of laying hens. A total of 288 HY-Line Brown hens (age, 23 wk) were randomly assigned into 3 treatment groups: control group (Con, a basal diet), LfBP1 and LfBP5 group (a basal diet supplemented with 1% or 5% LfBP). Each group has 8 replicates of twelve birds each. The results demonstrated that dietary supplementation of LfBP increased average daily feed intake (linear, P < 0.05), feed conversion ratio (linear, P < 0.05), and average egg weight (linear, P < 0.05) during the entire experimental period. In addition, dietary inclusion of LfBP enhanced the egg yolk color (linear, P < 0.01) but decreased the eggshell weight (quadratic, P < 0.05) and eggshell thickness (linear, P < 0.01). In serum, the LfBP supplementation linearly decreased the content of total triglyceride (linear, P < 0.01) but increased the content of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (linear, P < 0.05). The gene expression related to hepatic lipid metabolism including acetyl-CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARα) was down-regulated whereas liver X receptor was up-regulated in LfBP1 group. Moreover, LfBP1 supplementation remarkably reduced the F1 follicle number and ovarian gene expression of reproductive hormone receptors including estrogen receptor, follicle stimulating hormone receptor, luteinizing hormone receptor, progesterone receptor, prolactin receptor, and B cell lymphoma-2. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of LfBP could improve feed intake, egg yolk color, and lipid metabolism, but may cause a decline in eggshell quality with higher inclusion level, herein, 1% is suggested.

Introduction: Heavy metals negatively affect plant physiology. However, plants can reduce their toxicity through physiological responses. Broussonetia papyrifera is a suitable candidate tree for carrying out the phytoremediation of manganese (Mn)-contaminated soil. Methods: Considering that Mn stress typically exerts a binary effect on plants, to reveal the dynamic characteristics of the physiological indexes of B. papyrifera to Mn stress, we conducted pot experiments with six different Mn concentrations (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, and 5 mmol/L) for 60 days. In addition to the chlorophyll content, malondialdehyde (MDA), proline (PRO), soluble sugar, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), the absorption and transfer characteristics of Mn, and root structure were also measured. Results: Phytoremedial potential parameters such as the bioconcentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF) displayed an increasing trend with the increase of Mn concentration. At lowerMn concentrations (<0.5mmol/L), the TF value was <1 but crossed 1 when the Mn concentration exceeded 100 mmol/L. The Mn distribution in various tissues was in the following order: leaf > stem > root. The root structure analysis revealed that low-level concentrations of Mn (1 mmol/L) promoted root development. Mn concentration and stress duration had significant effects on all measured physiological indexes, and except soluble sugar, Mn concentration and stress time displayed a significant interaction on the physiological indexes. Discussion: Our study demonstrates that the physiological indexes of B. papyrifera display dynamic characteristics under Mn stress. Thus, during the monitoring process of Mn stress, it appears to be necessary to appropriately select sampling parts according to Mn concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, we evaluated the effect of exogenous lactic acid bacteria and Amomum villosum essential oil (AVEO) on the chemical composition, microbial community composition, microbial functional diversity, and fermentation quality of Broussonetia papyrifera (BP) and Pennisetum sinese (PS) mixed silages. The BP:PS mixing ratios were 100:0, 70:30, 50:50, 30:70, and 0:100. After 3 and 30 days of ensiling at 22°C–25°C, microbial diversity and function, and fermentation quality, were assessed. Increasing PS content resulted in decreased ammoniacal nitrogen and pH, increased water-soluble carbohydrate content, increased relative abundance of Lactococcus and Acinetobacter , and reduced relative abundance of Caproiciproducens and Pseudomonas. A 50:50 BP:PS ratio effectively improved the fermentation quality compared to anaerobic fermentation with BP or PS alone, while AVEO treatment further improved fermentation quality by increasing Lactococcus relative abundance. Moreover, as fermentation proceeded, ensiling enhanced the 'Human diseases', 'Environmental information processing', and 'Cellular processes' functions at the first level, as well as the 'Two-component system' and 'ABC transporters' functions at the third level. Different additives affected the fermentation of BP and PS mixed silage by regulating microbial community succession and metabolic pathways during ensiling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Binderless particleboards were prepared without any resin adhesives from Broussonetia papyrifera trunk by hot pressing. The effects of particle size, pressing time, pressing temperature and board density on the physical and mechanical properties of binderless boards were investigated. The effects of chemical changes in Broussonetia papyrifera binderless particleboards on the board properties were investigated by chemical, spectroscopic and cellulose crystallinity analyses. The bonding performance of the latex of Broussonetia papyrifera was discussed. The results showed: (1) the smaller size of the particle, the higher internal bonding (IB) strength and lower thickness swelling (TS) of the binderless board had. The modulus of rupture (MOR), the modulus of elasticity (MOE) and the IB values of the boards increased with the increase of board density. Within a certain range, the binderless boards manufactured at higher temperature and longer pressing time had better properties. Under the optimum board manufacturing condition of 220 ℃/30 min/1.0 g/cm3, the Broussonetia papyrifera binderless board recorded a MOR 28 MPa, MOE 5.3 GPa, IB 2.74 MPa and 24 h TS of 7.4%, which met the performance requirements of Chinese national standard for heavy-duty particleboard. (2) The degradation of cellulose and hemicellulose during hot pressing resulted in decrease of cellulose and hemicellulose content and increase of extractives. Some of the degradation products form new bonding to increase the bonding strength and dimensional stability of the binderless boards. (3) The formation of pseudo-lignin and increased C–O–C and cellulose crystallinity of the boards during hot pressing contributed to high quality of the binderless boards. (4) The poplar veneers bonded with the latex of Broussonetia papyrifera had a certain bonding strength (0.6 MPa), indicating the latex played a positive role in self-bonding of the Broussonetia papyrifera particleboard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broussonetia papyrifera is rich in flavonoids, which have significant antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities and certain pharmacological activities. Nevertheless, scarce transcriptome resources of B. papyrifera have impeded further study regarding the process of its production and accumulation. In this study, RNA-seq was utilized to evaluate the gene expression of B. papyrifera leaves at three distinct developmental phases (T1: young leaves, T3: immature leaves, T4: matured leaves). We obtained 2447 upregulated and 2960 downregulated DEGs, 4657 upregulated and 4804 downregulated DEGs, and 805 upregulated and 484 downregulated DEGs from T1 vs. T3, T1 vs. T4, and T3 vs. T4, respectively. Further research found that the following variables contributed to the formation of flavonoids in the leaves of B. papyrifera: Several important enzyme genes involved in flavonoid production pathways have been discovered. The results demonstrated that the dynamic changing trend of flavonoid contents is related to the expression pattern of the vast majority of essential genes in the biosynthetic pathway. Genes associated in energy and glucose metabolism, polysaccharide, cell wall and cytoskeleton metabolism, signal transduction, and protein and amino acid metabolism may affect the growth and development of B. papyrifera leaves, and eventually their flavonoid content. This study's results offer a strong platform for future research into the metabolic pathways of B. papyrifera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The structure and types of rumen microbes are closely related to host health. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Broussonetia papyrifera silage (BPS) gradually replacing the whole crop maize silage (WCMS) on total tract digestibility, rumen fermentation parameters, serum biochemical indicators, and rumen microbes of Holstein heifers. The diet treatment consisted of four proportions of BPS (0%, 25%, 50% and 75%) as substitute for WCMS (designated as T0, T25, T50 and T75, respectively). Twenty heifers (body weight = 245 ± 24 kg) were randomly divided into four groups of five heifers, and randomly received one diet. The feeding adaption period was 7 days, and the experiment period was 30 days. Our findings suggested that the digestibility of neutral detergent fiber and crude protein increased linearly with the increased in BPS (P

Most of the currently available disease resistance (R) genes have NBS (nucleotide-binding site) and LRR (leucine-rich-repeat) domain which belongs to the NBS-LRR gene family. The whole genome sequencing of Broussonetia papyrifera provides an important bioinformatics database for the study of the NBS-LRR gene family. In this study, 328 NBS-LRR family genes were identified and classified in B. papyrifera according to different classification schemes, where there are 92 N types, 47 CN type, 54 CNL type, 29 NL types, 55 TN type, and 51 TNL type. Subsequently, we conducted bioinformatics analysis of the NBS-LRR gene family. Classification, motif analysis of protein sequences, and phylogenetic tree studies of the NBS-LRR genes in B. papyrifera provide important basis for the functional study of NBS-LRR family genes. Additionally, we performed structural analysis of the chromosomal location, physicochemical properties, and sequences identified by genetic characterization. In addition, through the analysis of GO enrichment, it was found that NBS-LRR genes were involved in defense responses and were significantly enriched in biological stimulation, immune response, and abiotic stress. In addition, we found that Bp06g0955 was the most sensitive to low temperature and encoded the RPM1 protein by analyzing the low temperature transcriptome data of B. papyrifera. Quantitative results of gene expression after 48 h of Fusarium infection showed that Bp01g3293 increased 14 times after infection, which encodes RPM1 protein. The potential of NBS-LRR gene responsive to biotic and abiotic stresses can be exploited to improve the resistance of B. papyrifera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broussonetia papyrifera is an important fodder tree that is widely distributed in China. Enhancing the selenium (Se) content in B. papyrifera may help to improve the nutritional value of the feed. In this study, sodium selenite and selenate were foliar applied to investigate the mechanisms of Se tolerance and accumulation in B. papyrifera. The results showed that both Se forms significantly increased the total Se content, and the proportion of organic Se was significantly higher in the sodium selenite treatment than in the control. In addition, the soluble sugar, phenolic acid and flavonoid contents and antioxidant enzyme activities were increased by exogenous Se. The de novo RNA sequencing results showed that 644 and 1804 differentially expressed genes were identified in the selenite and selenate comparison groups, respectively. Pathway enrichment analysis demonstrated that 24 of the 108 pathways were significantly enriched, of which sulfur assimilation genes in the sodium selenite-treated groups were upregulated, whereas Se conjugation and transporter genes, such as SBP1 , PCS , GSTs , ABCs and GPX , were significantly induced under selenate treatment. The hub genes identified by weighted-gene co-expression network analysis further confirmed that sulfur assimilation, conjugation and transporter genes might play a vital role in Se assimilation and tolerance. From this, a model of Se metabolism in B. papyrifera was proposed based on the above physiological and RNA sequencing data. This study is the first study to report that B. papyrifera has a strong ability to accumulate and tolerate exogenous Se, thereby providing a foundation for further characterization of the accumulation and tolerance mechanism of B. papyrifera. Our findings can provide technical support for producing Se-enriched fodder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Paper mulberry is one of the most common skin-lightening agents in the beauty industry due to its strong anti-tyrosinase activity. This narrative review aims to summarize the chemical composition, biological activities, and applications of paper mulberry in cosmetics. Method: The literature for this article was acquired from the PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases before September 2022. The keywords for searching included "paper mulberry", "Broussonetia papyrifera", "skin-lightening", "skin-whitening", "depigmentation", "pharmacological activity", and "biological activity". Results: Paper mulberry consists of various components, including flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, phenols, saponins, coumarins, glycosides, and polysaccharides, which possess a wide range of pharmacological properties. Apart from its anti-tyrosinase activity, paper mulberry and its compounds exhibited anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, anticancer, antidiabetic, anticholinesterase, antigout, antinociceptive, and hepatoprotective effects. Phenols and flavonoids were demonstrated to be the main contributors to the biological activities of paper mulberry. Paper mulberry is widely applied in cosmetics for skin lightening and skin moisturizing purposes and shows potential for application in hair care products due to the hair nourishing effects. The safety of paper mulberry for topical application was proven in clinical studies. Conclusion: The current review provides a better understanding of paper mulberry's properties and allows us to extend the application of this plant and its bioactive components in cosmetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More attention has been paid in recent times to the application of Broussonetia papyrifera (BP) silage in ruminants, owing to its nutritional value. This study aimed to characterize the functionality of fermented BP and preliminarily explore its dietary effects on the gut health of laying hens. In this study, we characterized the antioxidant and antibacterial activities, bioactive compound profile, and bacterial community in Lactobacillus plantarum-fermented BP (FBP), as well as its dietary effects on intestinal morphology, microbiota and gene expression of laying hens. Improved contents of protein, total polyphenol and flavonoids as well as antioxidant and antibacterial activities were found after fermentation of BP. Untargeted metabolomics displayed more abundant apigenin, luteolin, diosmetin, and quercetin within the FBP, which may contribute to its functionality. Microbiome demonstrated increased abundance of Firmicutes at the expense of Cyanobacteria phylum, accompanied with raised levels of Lactobacillus genus. The results of a feeding trial showed dietary FBP supplementation increased the serum superoxide dismutase, but down-regulated gene expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), mucin2, and ZO-2, without obviously affecting the intestinal morphology and colonic microbiota. These findings suggest that FBP warrants further investigation as it may serve as a functional dietary supplement in laying hen feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study was conducted to examine the gas production, fermentation characteristics, nutrient degradation, and methanogenic community composition of a rumen fluid culture with Broussonetia papyrifera (B. papyrifera) subjected to ensiling or steam explosion (SE) pretreatment. Methods: Fresh B. papyrifera was collected and pretreated by ensiling or SE, which was then fermented with ruminal fluids as ensiled B. papyrifera group, steam-exploded B. papyrifera group, and untreated B. papyrifera group. The gas and methane production, fermentation characteristics, nutrient degradation, and methanogenic community were determined during the fermentation. Results: Cumulative methane production was significantly improved with SE pretreatment compared with ensiled or untreated biomass accompanied with more volatile fatty acids production. After 72 h incubation, SE and ensiling pretreatments decreased the acid detergent fiber contents by 39.4% and 22.9%, and neutral detergent fiber contents by 10.6% and 47.2%, respectively. Changes of methanogenic diversity and abundance of methanogenic archaea corresponded to the variations in fermentation pattern and methane production. Conclusion: Compared with ensiling pretreatment, SE can be a promising technique for the efficient utilization of B. papyrifera, which would contribute to sustainable livestock production systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • LCN was produced from lignocellulosic biomass by OAD hydrolysis treatment. • BPB was more easily reduced into LCN due to specific supramolecular structure. • LCN from BPBs had smaller size and higher crystallinity. • BPB was a preferred lignocellulosic biomass for directly production of LCN. Lignin-containing nanocellulose (LCN) shows great potential in the fabrication of high performance bio-based materials, and suitable raw materials may achieve the production of LCN in a more economical approach. Therefore, in this study, the morphology, chemical and supramolecular structure of six types of lignocellulosic biomass (Broussonetia papyrifera bark, moso bamboo, rattan, balsa wood, poplar wood and fir wood) were analyzed for the production of LCN by using pure oxalic acid dihydrate (OAD). The results revealed that BPBs is a natural available cellulose-rich materials with extremely high cellulose content, low lignin content, and loosely connected cellulose chains. Compared with the other five types of lignocellulosic biomass materials, the hydrolysis of BPBs without any pretreatments by using OAD produced higher yield of LCN with much more uniform size distribution and smaller size. LCN from BPBs had higher crystallinity and thermal stability than that from the other five lignocellulosic biomass. The finding in this study indicated that Broussonetia papyrifera bark without any pretreatment was a favored material for high yield production of LCN compared with the other woody materials, which provided an economically realizable method on the efficient and high yield production of LCN from unpretreated BPBs by using OAD hydrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a new feed resource, woody feed has the advantages of rich resources, high nutritional value and good feeding effect, which has become the focus of feed industry in recent years. The paper analyzes the significance of the development and utilization of woody feed resources, reviews the nutritional value, utilization mode and application effect of woody feed in monogastric animal production by taking two common woody feeds Broussonetia papyrifera and Moringa oleifera as examples, to provide reference for woody feed research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was to evaluate the quality dynamics and fermentation quality of Broussonetia papyrifera silage. Silage was prepared by conventional methods, and sensory evaluation and routine nutrient determination were carried out at 0, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 70 and 100 d of silage. Lactic acid bacteria count and pH value were measured at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 70, 100 d of silage, and three samples were taken from each treatment. The results showed that the quality of leaves did not change significantly during silage process. The leaves gradually showed a faint smell of on the 100th day of silage, and the color gradually changed from light green to dark green, the texture changed little during silage, and the sensory evaluation indexes were all at medium level. During silage, the content of lactic acid bacteria in Broussonetia papyrifera leaves decreased, and the number of lactic acid bacteria decreased to the lowest value at 100 d. During the whole silage, the pH value of feed showed a downward trend, but the rate of decrease was slow, and it dropped to 4.52 after 100 d of silage, indicating that the fermentation quality was at a medium level. With the prolongation of silage time, the water and soluble carbohydrates of Broussonetia papyrifera leaves silage decreased continuously within 30 d, and were significantly lower than those of raw materials on the 12th day (P<0.05). The level of ammonia nitrogen in leaves of arborvitae increased continuously, which was significantly higher than that of the raw material at 18 d (P<0.05). Within 30 d of silage, the content of crude protein, crude fiber, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber were not significantly different from raw materials (P>0.05). The study indicates that the silage effect is not ideal when the silage is carried out by conventional silage method. It was suggested that the silage quality can be improved by mixing silage with other silage materials with higher soluble carbohydrate content, or adding suitable fermentation strains and controlling the pH value and temperature of silage materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effects of HCO- 3 on the growth and physiological characteristics of plants under the stress of bicarbonate in karst environment. The growth, photosynthetic capacity, antioxidant enzyme activity, osmotic regulation substance content and cell membrane damage of Broussonetia papyrifera and Morus alba seedlings under three different concentrations of NaHCO3(0, 15, 30 mmol·L-1, respectively)were examined in the present study. The results were as follows:(1)Under HCO-3 treatment, the growth and photosynthetic capacity of Broussonetia papyrifera and Morus alba seedlings were significantly inhibited, accompanying the physiological responses of leaf cells to antioxidant and osmotic stress were significant. (2)The inhibitory effects of HCO-3 on the growth of Broussonetia papyrifera and Morus alba were concentration-dependent, and showed significant differences among examined concentrations(P<0.05). (3)The inhibitory effects of the growth, photosynthesis, antioxidant enzyme system and osmotic regulation system and the damage of plant cells under 30 mmol·L-1HCO- 3treatment were significantly stronger than those of 15 mmol·L-1HCO-3 treatment.(4)Under the same concentration of HCO-3, the growth, photosynthetic capacity, antioxidant enzyme activity, osmotic regulating substance content of Broussonetia papyrifera were significantly higher than those of Morus alba, and its leaf cell damage was significantly lower than that of M. alba. The results mentioned above indicate that HCO- 3 inhibits the growth, photosynthesis and resistance physiology of M. alba and Broussonetia papyrifera under bicarbonate stress, and the tolerance of B. papyrifera to bicarbonate stress is better than that of Morus alba, which means that Broussonetia papyrifera is more adaptable to the environment of bicarbonate stress. This study provides scientific support for the adaptation mechanism of Moraceae to karst environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Medicina Naturista is the property of Sociedad Europea de Medicina Naturista Clasica (Seccion Espanola) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The study was to investigate the effect of Aspergillus oryzae on fermentation quality of Broussonetia papyrifera. The experiment was divided into three groups: Control group, test group Ⅰ and test group Ⅱ. The control group was fermented with natural silage, the experimental group Ⅰ was fermented with compound bacterial agent, and the experimental group Ⅱ was fermented with Aspergillus oryzae silage, with three replicates in each group. Silage was fermented for 40 d. The results showed that the pH value of silage of Broussonetia papyrifera in test group Ⅱ was 4.47, which was significantly lower than that in control group (P<0.05). The content of lactic acid (LA) in test group Ⅱ was significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05). The content of ammonia nitrogen in test group Ⅱ was significantly lower than that in control group (P<0.05). The silage quality of group Ⅱ Broussonetia papyrifera silage was better than that of control group. After fermentation, the crude protein content of Broussonetia papyrifera silage in test group Ⅱ and test group Ⅰ was increased by 5.29% and 4.70% compared with control group, respectively. The total essential amino acid content was significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.05), and the acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber content were significantly lower than that of control group (P<0.05). The results of biomimetic digestion experiment showed that the dry matter digestibility of silage of group Ⅱ Broussonetia papyrifera was significantly increased (P<0.05), and the energy digestibility and enzymatic hydrolysis energy value were increased in different degrees. The experiment indicates that Aspergillus oryzae can improve the fermentation quality and nutritional value of Broussonetia papyrifera silage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology / Yingyong Shengtai Xuebao is the property of Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) L'Hér. ex Vent. has considerable economic and ecological value and a long history of use in China. In this paper, root cuttings were used as the material to establish an efficient vegetative propagation of B. papyrifera. The results revealed that root segments with a diameter of 1.5~2.0 cm and a length of 20~30 cm were most suitable for shoot regeneration, as these segments had the highest adventitious shoot induction rates (93.3%), strongest adventitious shoots, and highest multiplication coefficients (7.07). With regard to the methods used for root burial, a horizontal burial at a depth of 1~3 cm yielded the best results, in this case, the adventitious shoot induction rate can reach 86.7%. The best substrate combination was perlite: peat: coconut chaff = 1:1:1 (v/v/v), wherein the adventitious shoot induction rate can reach 75.6%. The best sterilization method was mixing soil with carbendazim and soaking the root sections in carbendazim for 30 min, wherein the adventitious shoot induction rate can reach 77.8%. Adding 0.2 mg/L naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) to 1/4 Hoagland nutrient solution significantly improved the rooting rate of adventitious shoots to 82.2%, and the survival rate of the acclimatized plants was more than 90.0%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure and types of rumen microbes are closely related to host health. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Broussonetia papyrifera silage (BPS) gradually replacing the whole crop maize silage (WCMS) on total tract digestibility, rumen fermentation parameters, serum biochemical indicators, and rumen microbes of Holstein heifers. The diet treatment consisted of four proportions of BPS (0%, 25%, 50% and 75%) as substitute for WCMS (designated as T0, T25, T50 and T75, respectively). Twenty heifers (body weight = 245 ± 24 kg) were randomly divided into four groups of five heifers, and randomly received one diet. The feeding adaption period was 7 days, and the experiment period was 30 days. Our findings suggested that the digestibility of neutral detergent fiber and crude protein increased linearly with the increased in BPS (P < 0.05). The concentrations of total protein and albumin increased quadratically with the increased in BPS (P < 0.05). The 16s high-throughput sequencing showed that feeding BPS did not change the diversity and structure of the rumen microbes of heifers. However, the relative abundances of Tenericutes and SR1–Absconditabacteria increased linearly with the increased in BPS (P < 0.05). The Weighted Correlation Network Analysis results suggested that ALT concentration was positively correlated with the abundance of Prevotella-1 (r = 0.73; P = 0.007). In general, Holstein heifers fed with BPS did not change the diversity and uniformity of rumen microbes, and enhanced the body protein metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flavonoids are important secondary metabolites involved in plant development and environmental responses. Sex differences in flavonoids are common in plants. Broussonetia papyrifera is a dioecious plant that is rich in flavonoids. However, few studies have been done on its molecular mechanism, especially sex differences. In the present study, we performed an integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics analysis of the sex differences in the accumulation of flavonoids in B. papyrifera leaves at different developmental stages. In general, flavonoids accumulated gradually with developmental time, and the content in female plants was higher than that in male plants. The composition of flavonoids in female and male plants was similar, and 16 kinds of flavonoids accumulated after flowering. Correspondingly, a significant enrichment of differentially expressed genes and metabolites was observed in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway. WGCNA and qRT-PCR analyses identified several key genes regulating the accumulation of flavonoids, such as those encoding CHS, CHI and DFR. In addition, 8 TFs were found to regulate flavonoid biosynthesis by promoting the expression of multiple structural genes. These findings provide insight into flavonoid biosynthesis in B. papyrifera associated molecular regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal resistant bacteria play an important role in the metal biogeochemical cycle in soil, but the benefits of microbial oxidation for plants and soil have not been well-documented. The purpose of this study was to explore the contribution of two Bacillus spp. to alleviate the antimony (Sb) toxicity in plants, and, then, to propose a bioremediation method for Sb contaminated soil, which is characterized by environmental protection, high efficiency, and low cost. This study explored the effects of Bacillus cereus HM5 and Bacillus thuringiensis HM7 inoculation on Broussonetia papyrifera and soil were evaluated under controlled Sb stressed conditions (0 and 100 mmol/L, antimony slag) through a pot experiment. The results show that the total root length, root volume, tips, forks, crossings, and root activities of B. papyrifera with inoculation are higher than those of the control group, and the strains promote the plant absorption of Sb from the soil environment. Especially in the antimony slag treatment group, B. cereus HM5 had the most significant effect on root promotion and promoting the absorption of Sb by B. papyrifera. Compared with the control group, the total root length, root volume, tips, forks, crossings, and root activities increased by 64.54, 70.06, 70.04, 78.15, 97.73, and 12.95%, respectively. The absorption of Sb by root, stem, and leaf increased by 265.12, 250.00, and 211.54%, compared with the control group, respectively. Besides, both B. cereus HM5 and B. thuringiensis HM7 reduce the content of malondialdehyde, proline, and soluble sugars in plant leaves, keeping the antioxidant enzyme activity of B. papyrifera at a low level, and alleviating lipid peroxidation. Principal component analysis (PCA) shows that both B. cereus HM5 and B. thuringiensis HM7 are beneficial to the maintenance of plant root functions and the improvement of the soil environment, thereby alleviating the toxicity of Sb. Therefore, B. cereus HM5 and B. thuringiensis HM7 in phytoremediation with B. papyrifera is a promising inoculant used for bacteria-assisted phytoremediation on Sb contaminated sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broussonetia papyrifera has increasingly been used as a high-quality feedstuff for ruminants due to its advantageous characteristics. The storage temperature can influence the fermentation quality of silage; however, the effect of temperature on B. papyrifera leaves (BPL) silage has not been reported. In the present study, the fermentation quality and bacterial community of BPL, stored at 15 °C and 30 °C, were investigated during ensiling (day 3, 7, 14, 30) with or without Lactobacillus plantarum strain (LP) added. The pH and the coliform bacteria counts were significantly lower in silage stored at 30 than 15 °C (p < 0.01), while the lactic acid content increased significantly (p < 0.05). Adding LP decreased the dry matter loss, pH, coliform bacteria count, and ammonia-N and butyric acid contents at 30 °C. The relative abundance of Lactobacillus increased, while the bacterial diversity decreased in the silage stored at 30 °C when LP was added. During silage, the high abundance of Lactobacillus decreased gas and carbon dioxide (CO2) production, and the lowest gas and CO2 production were detected in silage stored at 30 °C when LP was added. In conclusion, adding LP and storing it at 30 °C could effectively improve the quality of BPL silage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bulletin of Botanical Research is the property of Bulletin of Botanical Research Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The facilitatory role that isolated trees play in the regeneration of degraded areas that are not under the cover of invasive exotic plants is well recognized. In contrast, the influence of isolated trees in restoring sites invaded by exotic plants has hardly been studied. Such studies are needed because conditions that favor native tree regeneration under isolated trees, such as microclimate amelioration, increased nutrient levels, and facilitated dispersal, may also be favorable to certain species of exotic plants. Using transects, we studied species richness, abundance and resilience (as indicated by re-sprouting) of trees regenerating underneath the crowns of 15 isolated native trees that are emergent over a near continuous canopy of paper mulberry Broussonetia papyrifera in a degraded area of Mabira Forest, Uganda. Data collected beneath emergent tree crowns were matched by control data from the area immediately beyond the crowns. Native tree species abundance and richness were significantly higher beneath than beyond crowns; while the opposite was true of the density of B. papyrifera seedlings and saplings. Species richness was significantly higher beneath than beyond crowns for late-, but not early-succession trees. Polynomial regressions of species richness and abundance showed that B. papyrifera abundance increased significantly from stem bases to crown edges and leveled-off beyond crowns; while the density of native tree species was constant from stem bases to crown edges and decreased thereafter. Native tree species richness peaked at crown edges. The proportion of re-sprouts assigned to cutting of native tree species was significantly higher beyond than beneath crowns. We attribute the higher abundances and species richness of native species underneath crowns to both facilitation by isolated trees and the apparent shade-intolerance of B. papyrifera. Significantly higher levels of re-sprouting by native tree species could be an indication that the regeneration underneath crowns is less resilient to disturbance than that beyond, or that less resilient species occur beneath crowns. Overall, the results suggest that in sites invaded by mulberry, isolated trees have potential to accelerate recovery of native tree species while suppressing mulberry. Peaking of species richness at crown edges is not a commonly reported finding for isolated trees and needs to be further investigated.

Flavonoids are important secondary metabolites involved in plant development and environmental responses. Sex differences in flavonoids are common in plants. Broussonetia papyrifera is a dioecious plant that is rich in flavonoids. However, few studies have been done on its molecular mechanism, especially sex differences. In the present study, we performed an integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics analysis of the sex differences in the accumulation of flavonoids in B. papyrifera leaves at different developmental stages. In general, flavonoids accumulated gradually with developmental time, and the content in female plants was higher than that in male plants. The composition of flavonoids in female and male plants was similar, and 16 kinds of flavonoids accumulated after flowering. Correspondingly, a significant enrichment of differentially expressed genes and metabolites was observed in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway. WGCNA and qRT-PCR analyses identified several key genes regulating the accumulation of flavonoids, such as those encoding CHS, CHI and DFR. In addition, 8 TFs were found to regulate flavonoid biosynthesis by promoting the expression of multiple structural genes. These findings provide insight into flavonoid biosynthesis in B. papyrifera associated molecular regulation.

Heavy metal resistant bacteria play an important role in the metal biogeochemical cycle in soil, but the benefits of microbial oxidation for plants and soil have not been well-documented. The purpose of this study was to explore the contribution of two Bacillus spp. to alleviate the antimony (Sb) toxicity in plants, and, then, to propose a bioremediation method for Sb contaminated soil, which is characterized by environmental protection, high efficiency, and low cost. This study explored the effects of Bacillus cereus HM5 and Bacillus thuringiensis HM7 inoculation on Broussonetia papyrifera and soil were evaluated under controlled Sb stressed conditions (0 and 100 mmol/L, antimony slag) through a pot experiment. The results show that the total root length, root volume, tips, forks, crossings, and root activities of B. papyrifera with inoculation are higher than those of the control group, and the strains promote the plant absorption of Sb from the soil environment. Especially in the antimony slag treatment group, B. cereus HM5 had the most significant effect on root promotion and promoting the absorption of Sb by B. papyrifera. Compared with the control group, the total root length, root volume, tips, forks, crossings, and root activities increased by 64.54, 70.06, 70.04, 78.15, 97.73, and 12.95%, respectively. The absorption of Sb by root, stem, and leaf increased by 265.12, 250.00, and 211.54%, compared with the control group, respectively. Besides, both B. cereus HM5 and B. thuringiensis HM7 reduce the content of malondialdehyde, proline, and soluble sugars in plant leaves, keeping the antioxidant enzyme activity of B. papyrifera at a low level, and alleviating lipid peroxidation. Principal component analysis (PCA) shows that both B. cereus HM5 and B. thuringiensis HM7 are beneficial to the maintenance of plant root functions and the improvement of the soil environment, thereby alleviating the toxicity of Sb. Therefore, B. cereus HM5 and B. thuringiensis HM7 in phytoremediation with B. papyrifera is a promising inoculant used for bacteria-assisted phytoremediation on Sb contaminated sites.

The fermentation quality and microbial diversity of king grass (K), cassava foliage (C), and Broussonetia papyrifera (B) ensiled in the absence of an inoculant (K, C, B) or the presence of Lactobacillus plantarum (KL, CL, BL) for 60 days were investigated. The bacterial community was characterized by using the 16S rDNA sequencing technology. The relative abundance of Lactobacillus in K was very high, and it decreased after adding L. plantarum while Acinetobacter increased to some extent. The relative abundance of Lactobacillus in group C was also very high, and the inoculant L. plantarum enriched it in the CL group. As the second dominant genus of group C, the relative abundance of Pseudomonas decreased significantly in CL. Weissella and Enterobacter were the dominant genera in B and BL, and the relative abundance of Lactobacillus decreased in BL. For K, C, and B, the inoculant L. plantarum decreased the pH value and NH3-N content markedly, inhibited the production of butyric acid, increased the content of lactic acid, and significantly improved the fermentation quality. In conclusion, L. plantarum affected the bacterial community of C and improved the silage quality of K, C, and B to a certain extent.

This study was carried out in an attempt to evaluate the impact of Broussonetia papyrifera as a roughage substitute at different levels on carcase traits, growth performance, meat quality and immune performance in Hu ram lambs. Sixty Hu rams (5 months of age, 26.70 ± 2.14 kg body weight) were randomly divided into four groups. The treatments comprised B. papyrifera supplementation at levels of 0% (G0), 30% (G30), 60% (G60) and 100% (G100) of roughage feed. The results suggested that diet supplemented with B. papyrifera (G100 group) caused a higher average weight gain (AWG) and average daily gain (ADG) than those of G0 group. The highest carcase weight was observed in the G60 group. The chemical and physical properties of the longissimus dorsi muscle of Hu rams showed no significant differences (p>.05). For fatty acid, the G60 group had significantly lower content of saturated fatty acids (SFAs), higher contents of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and higher PUFA/SFA ratio than other groups (p

The experiment was conducted to study effect of mixed proportion silage of corn straw and Broussonetia papyrifera on fermentation quality of silage. Using corn straw and Broussonetia papyrifera as raw materials, the silage was divided into seven groups, with four replicates in each group, and 200 g in each replicate. No addition of B. papyrifera (group C), 9: 1 (group C9P1), 8 : 2 (group C8P2), 7 : 3 (group C7P3), 5 : 5 (group C5P5), 3 : 7 (group C3P7), and no addition of corn straw (group P). After 45 d of silage, samples were taken to analyze the silage quality and nutritional components. The results showed that mixed with B. papyrifera could improve the dry matter, water soluble carbohydrates content, buffering capacity and fermentation coefficient of the original materials. Compared with group P, pH value, acetic acid, butyric acid, dry matter and crude protein content of group C3P7, group C5P5, group C7P.3, group C8P2, C9P1 group and group C were significantly decreased (P<0.05), sensory score, lactic acid content, lactic acid/acetic acid and Fleig score were significantly increased (P<0.05). The sensory scores of group C and group C9P1 were excellent, while those of group C8P2 and group C7P3 were good. There was no significant difference in ammonia nitrogen/total nitrogen and Fleig score between group C, group C9P1 and group C8P2 (P>0.05), and butyric acid was not detected in above groups. There was no significant difference in dry matter content among group C, group C9P1, group C8P2 and group C7P.3 (P>0.05), and no significant difference in crude protein content between group C8P2 and group C7P.3 (P>0.05). The experiment indicates that considering the fermentation quality and nutrient content, 8 : 2 mixing proportion of corn stalk and B. papyrifera is optimal for silage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are various sources concerning the manufacture of Indochinese paper at the be­ginning of the 20th century: articles published in colonial magazines by engineers or by industrial managers working in Indochina, photographs and postcards taken by the colonial services; the work of Henri Oger, administrator of the French civil services stationed in Hanoi between 1912 and 1919; and during a later period and Dard Hunter’s book published in 1947, following a trip he made to Indochina. These sources provide a fairly precise idea of paper production and its social organisation in the region. This article presents the production of paper in the northern part of present-day Vietnam. It attempts to show the links between the Chinese and Tonkinese paper making.

A diverse range of natural fibers is produced in many countries providing an important source of income for farmers and local communities. With the UN declaring 2009 as the Year of Natural Fibres, for the state of Uttarakhand the development comes as a fillip to its efforts toward promoting the use of natural fibers. Some of the commercially important natural fibers found in Uttarakhand are obtained from Sisal, Agave, Bhimal, Hemp, Jute, and Nettle. This review article describes some of the fiber-yielding plants of North West Himalayas with special reference to Uttarakhand. Many of the natural fibers described have been traditionally used by the rural communities; some of the traditional processing techniques employed have been described along with other natural fiber plant species that have the potential to provide alternative employment opportunities. This review article aims to compile the record of fiber-yielding plants of Uttarakhand, which will lead to increase the contribution of fiber-yielding plants in the rural economy and ecosystem of the state for achieving sustainable socioeconomic development.

Broussonetia papyrifera is rich in flavonoids, which have significant antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities and certain pharmacological activities. Nevertheless, scarce transcriptome resources of B. papyrifera have impeded further study regarding the process of its production and accumulation. In this study, RNA-seq was utilized to evaluate the gene expression of B. papyrifera leaves at three distinct developmental phases (T1: young leaves, T3: immature leaves, T4: matured leaves). We obtained 2447 upregulated and 2960 downregulated DEGs, 4657 upregulated and 4804 downregulated DEGs, and 805 upregulated and 484 downregulated DEGs from T1 vs. T3, T1 vs. T4, and T3 vs. T4, respectively. Further research found that the following variables contributed to the formation of flavonoids in the leaves of B. papyrifera: Several important enzyme genes involved in flavonoid production pathways have been discovered. The results demonstrated that the dynamic changing trend of flavonoid contents is related to the expression pattern of the vast majority of essential genes in the biosynthetic pathway. Genes associated in energy and glucose metabolism, polysaccharide, cell wall and cytoskeleton metabolism, signal transduction, and protein and amino acid metabolism may affect the growth and development of B. papyrifera leaves, and eventually their flavonoid content. This study’s results offer a strong platform for future research into the metabolic pathways of B. papyrifera.