Making floras computable: Audited translation of flora of China as reusable taxonomic knowledge
July 2026
•Floristic translation becomes a versioned, auditable knowledge infrastructure.•LLMs enable scalable translation under constraints for reuse-critical elements.•Release workflow integrates QA, terminology...
A milestone in resolving the polyploid paradox
July 2026
•Chen et al. found ancient WGDs cluster around major environmental disruptions from Cretaceous to Neogene.•Polyploids are disadvantaged in stable conditions but gain advantages during severe crises.•WGD...
Class I TCP transcription factor OsTCP4 suppresses plant height via negatively regulating the green revolution gene SD1 (OsGA20ox2) in rice (Oryza sativa)
July 2026
Plant height is critical for crops in agricultural research and practice. Optimizing plant height helps to increase yield and lodging resistance. The green revolution gene semi-dwarf 1 (SD1) encoding...
The Tianshan Mountains as a biogeographic barrier driving North-South divergence and local adaptation in Typha laxmannii
July 2026
The Tianshan Mountains constitute a major biogeographic barrier in Arid Central Asia, yet their impact on plant genomic divergence and adaptation remains poorly understood. Using Typha laxmannii, a...
Climate modulation of phylogenetic and functional constraints on fruit volume: A case study of Chinese angiosperms
July 2026
Fruit volume is a pivotal reproductive trait that influences dispersal, seed predation, and offspring establishment, yet its large-scale drivers remain poorly understood. Here, we compiled phylogenetic,...
Regeneration from seeds with physical defects: Contrasts in survival strategies in recalcitrant and orthodox seeds
July 2026
Seeds with different desiccation tolerance and their foraging animals present unique strategies for ensuring population growth and ecological fitness in the natural environment. While some seeds minimize...
Stone-like fruit is associated with reduced herbivory and enhanced reproductive success in an alpine legume (Phyllolobium heydei)
July 2026
•Fruits of Phyllolobium heydei evolved remarkably similar to stones.•Stone-like fruits may protect the fruits from herbivores and thereby increase ensure reproductive success.•Concealment of fruits...
Chromosome-level genome assembly of Tadehagi triquetrum provides new insights into genome evolution and biosynthesis of tadehaginoside
July 2026
•First chromosome-level genome of Tadehagi triquetrum (627.33 Mb, contig N50 = 34.04 Mb, 99.2% BUSCO).•Phylogenomics places T. triquetrum sister to soybean, diverged ～34.16 Mya.•Identification and characterization...
Climate drives patterns of response of recalcitrant embryonic axes of Quercus species to cryopreservation
July 2026
Cryopreservation of partially dried embryonic axes represents the primary approach for long-term preservation of recalcitrant seeds. However, while many seed traits and responses relate to either pre-...
Local adaptation sustains genetic differentiation between two varieties of Chinese walnut (Juglans cathayensis) despite extensive hybridization in subtropical China
July 2026
Understanding how natural selection sustains genetic differentiation despite ongoing hybridization remains a central question in evolutionary biology. Here, we integrated range-wide whole-genome resequencing...
Phylogenomic conflict in Lycium (Solanaceae): Revealing the roles of hybridization, incomplete lineage sorting, and biogeographic history using nuclear and mitochondrial genomes
July 2026
The genus Lycium is of considerable medicinal and economic importance and has a discontinuous intercontinental distribution. However, its evolutionary history remains obscured by morphological convergence,...
Niche evolution and asymmetric diversification in elm species (Ulmaceae)
July 2026
Global patterns of species diversity are highly heterogeneous, and even within the same evolutionary lineage, species richness can differ markedly. Understanding the mechanisms underlying such disparities...
Role of plant litter in maintaining ecological stability of grassland following extreme rainfall
July 2026
Extreme climate scenarios threaten the ecological stability of grassland ecosystems. Plant litter plays a critical role in regulating ecosystem structure and function, therefore its accumulation must...
Divergent responses of microbial networks to global change scenarios during alpine cushion plant degradation
July 2026
The degradation of alpine cushion plants is known to disrupt soil microbial networks. To explore the mechanisms behind this, we collected soils across a degradation sequence on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau...
How does plant diversity drive productivity in China’s drylands: Through complementary or mass ratio effects?
July 2026
Dryland biodiversity–productivity relationships remain poorly resolved. Specifically, the environmental conditions governing the shift between complementarity and mass ratio mechanisms remain unclear,...
Crown architecture traits mediate shade tolerance-dependent trade-offs and neighborhood interactions in a subtropical forest
July 2026
Crown architectural traits are critical adaptations that balance light capture with mechanical stability. Given that light availability plays a fundamental role in shaping forest community structure,...
Evolution of fruit functional traits provides insights into the drivers of cycle-cup oaks (Quercus section Cyclobalanopsis) diversification in evergreen broadleaf forests
July 2026
The impact of key traits on lineage diversity remains a central focus in macroevolutionary research. Seeds, encapsulated within fruits, carry the complete genetic blueprint of their species, and the...
The first telomere-to-telomere genome assembly of the soybean male-sterile germplasm 88-428BY by massive parallel sequencing
July 2026
Soybean (Glycine max) is a key source of plant protein and oil, yet genomic resources for male-sterile germplasms remain scarce. This study addresses this gap by presenting the first telomere-to-telomere...
Scaling and stoichiometry of seed nitrogen and phosphorus across Chinese grasslands
July 2026
Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) play crucial roles in early seedling establishment, influencing germination, survival, and overall performance. However, large-scale multispecies seed element survey...
Phylogenomic conflict in Moraceae: Evidence for pervasive introgression and incomplete lineage sorting
July 2026
Although the phylogenetic backbone of Moraceae, an ecologically important angiosperm family in tropical rainforests, has been significantly improved, phylogenetic discordance among nuclear genes and...
Phylogenomics resolves the backbone phylogeny of Crucihimalayeae (Brassicaceae), resurrection of Eurycarpus and Transberingia, and recognition of the new genus Rutogia
Available online 30 July 2026
Crucihimalayeae is a tribe of Brassicaceae characteristic of Central Asian mountains, with Crucihimalaya himalaica serving as a model for high-altitude adaption. However, the boundaries and phylogenetic...
Network Characteristics and Driving Factors of Leaf Trait Networks Along a Gradient of Rocky Desertification
Available online 29 July 2026
Rocky desertification severely constrains ecosystem functioning and vegetation in karst landscapes. Understanding how soil environmental changes influence plant functional coordination is therefore...
Spatial phylogenetics reveals endemism centers and conservation priorities for the vascular flora of Pakistan
Available online 24 July 2026
Pakistan represents a key region connecting multiple biogeographic realms, yet its plant diversity and underlying drivers remain poorly understood, limiting our ability to inform conservation efforts....
A new genus of Cucurbitaceae with independently evolved operculate pepos
Available online 23 July 2026
•Plastid and nuclear phylogenies resolve three major lineages within Schizopeponeae.•Herpetospermum s. l. is non-monophyletic, supporting the new genus Operculifructus.•Operculate pepos represent a...