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Ao D, Wang B, Wang Y, Chen Y, Anum R, Feng C, Ji M, Liang C, An S. Grassland degraded patchiness reduces microbial necromass content but increases contribution to soil organic carbon accumulation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 951:175717. [PMID: 39197785 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2024] [Revised: 08/20/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024]
Abstract
Plant and microbially derived carbon (C) are the two major sources of soil organic carbon (SOC), and their ratio impacts SOC composition, accumulation, stability, and turnover. The contributions of and the key factors defining the plant and microbial C in SOC with grassland patches are not well known. Here, we aim to address this issue by analyzing lignin phenols, amino sugars, glomalin-related soil proteins (GRSP), enzyme activities, particulate organic carbon (POC), and mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC). Shrubby patches showed increased SOC and POC due to higher plant inputs, thereby stimulating plant-derived C (e.g., lignin phenol) accumulation. While degraded and exposed patches exhibited higher microbially derived C due to reduced plant input. After grassland degradation, POC content decreased faster than MAOC, and plant biomarkers (lignin phenols) declined faster than microbial biomarkers (amino sugars). As grassland degradation intensified, microbial necromass C and GRSP (gelling agents) increased their contribution to SOC formation. Grassland degradation stimulated the stabilization of microbially derived C in the form of MAOC. Further analyses revealed that microorganisms have a C and P co-limitation, stimulating the recycling of necromass, resulting in the proportion of microbial necromass C in the SOC remaining essentially stable with grassland degradation. Overall, with the grassland degradation, the relative proportion of the plant component decreases while than of the microbial component increases and existed in the form of MAOC. This is attributed to the physical protection of SOC by GRSP cementation. Therefore, different sources of SOC should be considered in evaluating SOC responses to grassland degradation, which has important implications for predicting dynamics in SOC under climate change and anthropogenic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deng Ao
- College of Nature Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Baorong Wang
- College of Grassland Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Yubin Wang
- College of Nature Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Yuanjia Chen
- Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Rafiq Anum
- Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Chenglong Feng
- Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Mukan Ji
- Center for Pan-third Pole Environment, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Chao Liang
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Shaoshan An
- College of Nature Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
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Li J, Zhao J, Liao X, Hu P, Wang W, Ling Q, Xie L, Xiao J, Zhang W, Wang K. Pathways of soil organic carbon accumulation are related to microbial life history strategies in fertilized agroecosystems. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 927:172191. [PMID: 38588738 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Although the formation, turnover, and accumulation of soil organic carbon (SOC) are driven by different fertilizer inputs and their subsequent microbial-mediated transformation, the relationship between changes in plant-derived and microbial-derived components and soil microbial life history strategies under different fertilization regimes has not been well explored. In this study, the changes in microbial necromass carbon (MNC), lignin phenols, and glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP), as well as soil microbial life history strategy were determined in a 16-year field experiment in response to different fertilization regimes, including a no-fertilizer control (C), conventional chemical NPK fertilization (NPK), and partial substitutions of the NPK in chemical fertilizers with a low (30 %) or high (60 %) level of straw (0.3S and 0.6S) or cattle manure (0.3M and 0.6M). The results showed that total lignin phenol content and its contribution to SOC were significantly increased by 88.7 % and 74.2 %, respectively, in high-level straw substitution treatment as compared to chemical fertilization. Both high-level straw and cattle manure substitution increased MNC and total GRSP contents, but did not alter their contributions to SOC compared to chemical fertilization. In fertilized treatments, the high-level cattle manure substitution had the lowest and highest bacterial and fungal K/r ratio, respectively. Bacterial K/r ratio was an important factor in predicting bacterial necromass carbon content and there was a significant negative correlation between them. The ratio of ectomycorrhizal to saprotrophic fungi and fungal diversity were important factors for predicting lignin phenol and GRSP contents, respectively. In addition, the SEMs modeling indicated that straw substitution directly affected lignin phenol and MNC accumulation, whereas cattle manure substitution indirectly affected MNC accumulation by affecting microbial life history strategies. In conclusions, agricultural residues inputs support the formation of a multiple carbon pool of SOC compared to chemical fertilization; and microbial life history strategy is an important driver of SOC formation and affects SOC accumulation and stability in agroecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangnan Li
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, PR China; College of Environment and Ecology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, PR China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Karst Ecological Processes and Services, Huanjiang 547100, PR China; Huanjiang Observation and Research Station for Karst Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huanjiang 547100, PR China
| | - Jie Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, PR China; Guangxi Industrial Technology Research Institute for Karst Rocky Desertification Control, Nanning 530012, PR China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Karst Ecological Processes and Services, Huanjiang 547100, PR China; Huanjiang Observation and Research Station for Karst Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huanjiang 547100, PR China.
| | - Xionghui Liao
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, PR China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Karst Ecological Processes and Services, Huanjiang 547100, PR China; Huanjiang Observation and Research Station for Karst Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huanjiang 547100, PR China
| | - Peilei Hu
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, PR China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Karst Ecological Processes and Services, Huanjiang 547100, PR China; Huanjiang Observation and Research Station for Karst Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huanjiang 547100, PR China
| | - Wenyu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, PR China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Karst Ecological Processes and Services, Huanjiang 547100, PR China; Huanjiang Observation and Research Station for Karst Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huanjiang 547100, PR China
| | - Qiumei Ling
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, PR China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Karst Ecological Processes and Services, Huanjiang 547100, PR China; Huanjiang Observation and Research Station for Karst Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huanjiang 547100, PR China
| | - Lei Xie
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, PR China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Karst Ecological Processes and Services, Huanjiang 547100, PR China; Huanjiang Observation and Research Station for Karst Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huanjiang 547100, PR China
| | - Jun Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, PR China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Karst Ecological Processes and Services, Huanjiang 547100, PR China; Huanjiang Observation and Research Station for Karst Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huanjiang 547100, PR China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, PR China; Guangxi Industrial Technology Research Institute for Karst Rocky Desertification Control, Nanning 530012, PR China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Karst Ecological Processes and Services, Huanjiang 547100, PR China; Huanjiang Observation and Research Station for Karst Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huanjiang 547100, PR China
| | - Kelin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, PR China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Karst Ecological Processes and Services, Huanjiang 547100, PR China; Huanjiang Observation and Research Station for Karst Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huanjiang 547100, PR China.
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Li HH, Chen XW, Zhai FH, Li YT, Zhao HM, Mo CH, Luo Y, Xing B, Li H. Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus Alleviates Charged Nanoplastic Stress in Host Plants via Enhanced Defense-Related Gene Expressions and Hyphal Capture. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:6258-6273. [PMID: 38450439 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c07850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Contamination of small-sized plastics is recognized as a factor of global change. Nanoplastics (NPs) can readily enter organisms and pose significant ecological risks. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are the most ubiquitous and impactful plant symbiotic fungi, regulating essential ecological functions. Here, we first found that an AM fungus, Rhizophagus irregularis, increased lettuce shoot biomass by 25-100% when exposed to positively and negatively charged NPs vs control, although it did not increase that grown without NPs. The stress alleviation was attributed to the upregulation of gene expressions involving phytohormone signaling, cell wall metabolism, and oxidant scavenging. Using a root organ-fungus axenic growth system treated with fluorescence-labeled NPs, we subsequently revealed that the hyphae captured NPs and further delivered them to roots. NPs were observed at the hyphal cell walls, membranes, and spore walls. NPs mediated by the hyphae were localized at the root epidermis, cortex, and stele. Hyphal exudates aggregated positively charged NPs, thereby reducing their uptake due to NP aggregate formation (up to 5000 nm). This work demonstrates the critical roles of AM fungus in regulating NP behaviors and provides a potential strategy for NP risk mitigation in terrestrial ecosystems. Consequent NP-induced ecological impacts due to the affected AM fungi require further attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Hao Li
- Guangdong Provincial Research Centre for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, Department of Ecology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Xun Wen Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Research Centre for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, Department of Ecology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Feng Hua Zhai
- Guangdong Provincial Research Centre for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, Department of Ecology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yong Tao Li
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Hai Ming Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Research Centre for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, Department of Ecology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Ce Hui Mo
- Guangdong Provincial Research Centre for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, Department of Ecology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yongming Luo
- Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Baoshan Xing
- Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Hui Li
- Guangdong Provincial Research Centre for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, Department of Ecology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
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Gu R, Xiao K, Zhu Z, He X, Li D. Afforestation enhances glomalin-related soil protein content but decreases its contribution to soil organic carbon in a subtropical karst area. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 356:120754. [PMID: 38522280 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Afforestation on degraded croplands has been proposed as an effective measure to promote ecosystem functions including soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. Glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) plays a crucial role in promoting the accumulation and stability of SOC. Nevertheless, mechanisms underlying the effects of afforestation on GRSP accumulation have not been well elucidated. In the present study, 14 pairs of maize fields and plantation forests were selected using a paired-site approach in a karst region of southwest China. By measuring soil GRSP and a variety of soil biotic and abiotic variables, the pattern of and controls on GRSP accumulation in response to afforestation were explored. The average content of total GRSP (T-GRSP) and its contribution to SOC in the maize field were 5.22 ± 0.29 mg g-1 and 42.33 ± 2.25%, and those in the plantation forest were 6.59 ± 0.32 mg g-1 and 25.77 ± 1.17%, respectively. T-GRSP content was increased by 26.4% on average, but its contribution to SOC was decreased by 39.1% following afforestation. T-GRSP content decreased as soil depth increased regardless of afforestation or not. Afforestation increased T-GRSP indirectly via its positive effects on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi biomass, which was stimulated by afforestation through elevating fine root biomass or increasing the availability of labile C and N. The suppressed contribution of T-GRSP to SOC following afforestation was due to the relatively higher increase in other SOC components than T-GRSP and the significant increase of soil C:N ratio. Our study reveals the mechanisms underlying the effects of afforestation on T-GRSP accumulation, and is conducive to improving the mechanistic understanding of microbial control on SOC sequestration following afforestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Gu
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Karst Ecological Processes and Services, Huanjiang Observation and Research Station for Karst Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huanjiang, 547100, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
| | - Kongcao Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China; Guangxi Industrial Technology Research Institute for Karst Rocky Desertification Control, Nanning, 530000, China
| | - Zihong Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Karst Ecological Processes and Services, Huanjiang Observation and Research Station for Karst Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huanjiang, 547100, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
| | - Xunyang He
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China; Guangxi Industrial Technology Research Institute for Karst Rocky Desertification Control, Nanning, 530000, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Karst Ecological Processes and Services, Huanjiang Observation and Research Station for Karst Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huanjiang, 547100, China
| | - Dejun Li
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China; Guangxi Industrial Technology Research Institute for Karst Rocky Desertification Control, Nanning, 530000, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Karst Ecological Processes and Services, Huanjiang Observation and Research Station for Karst Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huanjiang, 547100, China.
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Su Z, Zhong Y, Zhu X, Wu Y, Shen Z, Shangguan Z. Vegetation restoration altered the soil organic carbon composition and favoured its stability in a Robinia pseudoacacia plantation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 899:165665. [PMID: 37478936 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
Soil organic carbon (SOC) stabilization is vital for the mitigation of global climate change and retention of soil carbon stocks. However, there are knowledge gaps on how SOC sources and stabilization respond to vegetation restoration. Therefore, we investigated lignin phenol and amino sugar biomarkers, SOC physical fractions and chemical structure in one farmland and four stands of a Robinia pseudoacacia plantation. We observed that the content of SOC increased with afforestation, but the different biomarkers had different contributions to SOC. Compared to farmland, the contribution of lignin phenols to SOC decreased in the plantations, whereas there was no difference among the four stand ages, likely resulting from the balance between increasing lignin derivation input and increasing lignin degradation. Conversely, vegetation restoration increased the content of microbial necromass carbon (MNC) and the contribution of MNC to SOC, mainly because microbial residue decomposition was inhibited by decreasing the activity of leucine aminopeptidase, while microbial necromass preservation was promoted by adjusting soil variables (soil water content, clay, pH and total nitrogen). In addition, vegetation restoration increased the particulate organic carbon (POC), mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) pools and the O-alkyl C intensify. Overall, vegetation restoration affected SOC composition by regulating lignin phenols and microbial necromass and also altered SOC stabilization by increasing the physically stable MAOC pool during late afforestation. The results of this study suggest that more attention should be given to SOC sequestration and stability during late vegetation restoration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuoxia Su
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Yangquanwei Zhong
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Xiaoyue Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Yang Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | | | - Zhouping Shangguan
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
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Nie K, Xu M, Zhang J. Changes in soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in Pinus massoniana forest along altitudinal gradients of subtropical karst mountains. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15198. [PMID: 37016678 PMCID: PMC10066882 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Changes in altitude have a long-term and profound impact on mountain forest ecosystems. However, there have been few reports on changes in soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus contents (SCNPC) along altitudinal gradients in subtropical karst mountain forests, as well as on the factors influencing such changes. We selected five Pinus massoniana forests with an altitudinal gradient in the karst mountain area of Southwest China as research objects and analyzed the changes in SCNPC along the altitudinal gradient, as well as the influencing factors behind these changes. Soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and available nitrogen contents first increased and then decreased with increasing altitude, whereas the contents of total phosphorus and available phosphorus showed no obvious trend. In the karst mountain P. massoniana forest, SCNPC in the topsoil is most significantly affected by total glomalin-related soil protein (TG) and soil moisture content (SMC) (cumulative explanatory rate was 45.28–77.33%), indicating that TG and SMC are important factors that affect SCNPC in the karst mountain P. massoniana forest. In addition, the main environmental factors that affect SCNPC in the subsoil showed significant differences. These results may provide a better scientific reference for the sustainable management of the subtropical mountain P. massoniana forest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Nie
- Key laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation in Mountainous Region (Ministry of Education), Collaborative Innovation Center for Mountain Ecology & Agro-Bioengineering (CICMEAB), College of Life Sciences, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China
| | - Ming Xu
- Key laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation in Mountainous Region (Ministry of Education), Collaborative Innovation Center for Mountain Ecology & Agro-Bioengineering (CICMEAB), College of Life Sciences, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- Key laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation in Mountainous Region (Ministry of Education), Collaborative Innovation Center for Mountain Ecology & Agro-Bioengineering (CICMEAB), College of Life Sciences, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China
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