Identification of Ligularia Herbs Using the Complete Chloroplast Genome as a Super-Barcode

More than 30 Ligularia Cass. (Asteraceae) species have long been used in folk medicine in China. Morphological features and common DNA regions are both not ideal to identify Ligularia species. As some Ligularia species contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are hazardous to human and animal health and are involved in metabolic toxification in the liver, it is important to find a better way to distinguish these species. Here, we report complete chloroplast (CP) genomes of six Ligularia species, L. intermedia, L. jaluensis, L. mongolica, L. hodgsonii, L. veitchiana, and L. fischeri, obtained through high-throughput Illumina sequencing technology. These CP genomes showed typical circular tetramerous structure and their sizes range from 151,118 to 151,253 bp. The GC content of each CP genome is 37.5%. Every CP genome contains 134 genes, including 87 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, eight rRNA genes, and two pseudogenes (ycf1 and rps19). From the mVISTA, there were no potential coding or non-coding regions to distinguish these six Ligularia species, but the maximum likelihood tree of the six Ligularia species and other related species showed that the whole CP genome can be used as a super-barcode to identify these six Ligularia species. This study provides invaluable data for species identification, allowing for future studies on phylogenetic evolution and safe medical applications of Ligularia

Characterization of the complete chloroplast genomes of five Populus species from the western Sichuan plateau, southwest China: comparative and phylogenetic analyses

Species of the genus Populus, which is widely distributed in the northern hemisphere from subtropical to boreal forests, are among the most commercially exploited groups of forest trees. In this study, the complete chloroplast genomes of five Populus species (Populus cathayana, P. kangdingensis, P. pseudoglauca, P. schneideri, and P. xiangchengensis) were compared. The chloroplast genomes of the five Populus species are very similar. The total chloroplast genome sequence lengths for the five plastomes were 156,789, 156,523, 156,512, 156,513, and 156,465 bp, respectively. A total of 130 genes were identified in each genome, including 85 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes and eight rRNA genes. Seven genes were duplicated in the protein-coding genes, whereas 11 genes were duplicated in the RNA genes. The GC content was 36.7% for all plastomes. We analyzed nucleotide substitutions, small inversions, simple sequence repeats and long repeats in the chloroplast genomes and found nine divergence hotspots (ccsA+ccsA-ndhD, ndhC-trnV, psbZ-trnfM, trnG-atpA, trnL-ndhJ, trnR-trnN, ycf4-cemA, ycf1, and trnR-trnN), which could be useful molecular genetic markers for future population genetic and phylogenetic studies. We also observed that two genes (rpoC2 and rbcL) were subject to positive selection. Phylogenetic analysis based on whole cp genomes showed that P. schneideri had a close relationship with P. kangdingensis and P. pseudoglauca, while P. xiangchengensis was a sister to P. cathayana

Plastome Sequences Help to Resolve Deep-Level Relationships of Populus in the Family Salicaceae

Populus, a core genus of Salicaceae, plays a significant ecological role as a source of pioneer species in boreal forests. However, interspecific hybridization and high levels of morphological variation among poplars have resulted in great difficulty in classifying species for systematic and comparative evolutionary studies. Here, we present phylogenetic analyses of 24 newly sequenced Populus plastomes and 36 plastomes from GenBank, which represent seven genera of Salicaceae, in combination with a matrix of eighteen morphological characters of 40 Populus taxa to reconstruct highly supported relationships of genus Populus. Relationships among the 60 taxa of Salicaceae strongly supported two monophyletic genera: Populus and Salix. Chosenia was nested within the genus Salix, and five clades within Populus were divided. Clade I included the three taxa P. euphratica, P. pruinosa, and P. ilicifolia. Clade II contained thirteen taxa [P. adenopoda, P. alba, P. bolleana, P. davidiana, P. hopeiensis, P. nigra, P. qiongdaoensis, P. rotundifolia, P. rotundifolia var. duclouxiana, P. tremula, P. tremula × alba, P. tomentosa, and P. tomentosa (NC)]. Clade III included the ten taxa P. haoana, P. kangdingensis, P. lasiocarpa, P. pseudoglauca, P. qamdoensis, P. schneideri, P. simonii, P. szechuanica, P. szechuanica var. tibetica, and P. yunnanensis. Clade IV included P. cathayana, P. gonggaensis, P. koreana, P. laurifolia, P. trinervis, P. wilsonii, and P. xiangchengensis. The last clade comprised P. angustifolia, P. balsamifera, P. deltoides, P. deltoides × nigra, P. fremontii, P. mexicana, and P. trichocarpa. This phylogeny is also supported by morphological traits, including bark smoothness, bud size, petiole shape, leaf inflorescence, male anther length and male anther tip

Hybrid Synchronization of Uncertain Generalized Lorenz System by Adaptive Control

This paper investigates hybrid synchronization of the uncertain generalized Lorenz system. Several useful criteria are given for synchronization of two generalized Lorenz systems, and the adaptive control law and the parameter update law are used. In comparison with those of existing synchronization methods, hybrid synchronization includes full-order synchronization, reduced-order synchronization, and modified projective synchronization. What is more, control of the stability point, complete synchronization, and antisynchronization can coexist in the same system. Numerical simulations show the effectiveness of this method in a class of chaotic systems

The Effect of Nano-Aluminumpowder on the Characteristic of RDX based Aluminized Explosives Underwater Close-Filed Explosion

In order to investigate the effect of nano-aluminum powder on the characteristic of RDX based aluminized explosives underwater closed-filed explosions, the scanning photographs along the radial of the charges were gained by a high speed scanning camera. The photographs of two different aluminized explosives underwater explosion have been analyzed, the shock wave curves and expand curves of detonation products were obtained, furthermore the change rules of shock waves propagation velocity, shock front pressure and expansion of detonation products of two aluminized explosives were investigated, and also the parameters of two aluminized explosives were contrasted. The results show that the aluminized explosive which with nano-aluminum whose initial shock waves pressure propagation velocity, shock front pressure are smaller than the aluminized explosive without nano-aluminum and has lower decrease rate attenuation of energy

Mechanical Properties and Toxicity Risks of Lead-Zinc Sulfide Tailing-Based Construction Materials

The leaching residue of the lead–zinc sulfide tailing (LRT) is the only residue generated from the tailing leaching recovery process; it is a typical hazardous material for its high heavy-metal contents and high acidity. Due to the large output of LRT, and because its main components are Ca, Si, and Al, the preparation of building construction materials with LRT was studied. The results showed that when the LRT addition is less than 47%, with the ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and fly ash (FA) added and the curing conditions appropriate, the strength values of the tested specimens meet the M15 Class of the autoclaved lime sand brick standard (GB/T 16753-1997). The carbonization coefficient and drying shrinkage of the specimen were 0.79 and smaller than 0.42, respectively. As the SEM, TG, and XRD analysis have shown, the LRT can chemically react with additives to form stable minerals. The heavy metal contents that were leached out well met the limits in GB5085.3-2007. Based on the high addition of the LRT, the good strength and lower heavy metals were leached out of the prepared test specimen, and the tailing could be reused completely with the leaching recovery and the LRT reuse process. LRT can be used to replace OPC, allowing more sustainable concrete production and improved ecological properties of LRT