Genome breakthrough reveals secrets behind rapid growth and invasiveness of tropical vine Merremia boisiana

Maximum Academic Press

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(a) Gene family expansion and contraction of M. boisiana. (b) Functional (GO) enrichment for the Convolvulaceae node. (c) Functional (GO) enrichment for the Convolvulaceae unique. (d) OGS overlap among Convolvulaceae, Solanaceae, Rubiaceae, and Asteraceae. (e) LAGLIDADG_1’s expression of M. boisiana. (f) Convolvulaceae unique Pfam domains. (g) Pfam domains overlap among Convolvulaceae, Solanaceae, Rubiaceae, and Asteraceae.

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Credit: The authors

Merremia boisiana, a member of the Convolvulaceae family, a fast-growing vine native to tropical rainforests and known for its vibrant golden flowers and astonishing climbing ability, grows at speeds exceeding 12 cm per day, often overwhelming native vegetation and disrupting forest ecosystems. Despite its ecological importance and genetic proximity to economically vital crops like sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), little was known about its genomic makeup until now.

A study (DOI:10.48130/tp-0025-0007) published in Tropical Plants on 24 March 2025 by Fei Chen and Wenquan Wang’s team, Hainan University, marks a significant leap forward in Convolvulaceae research, providing a foundation for gene mining, comparative genomics, and breeding strategies.

To uncover the genomic basis underlying the rapid growth and ecological adaptability of Merremia boisiana, researchers conducted a comprehensive chromosome-level genome assembly using a combination of advanced sequencing technologies. The project began with flow cytometry, estimating the genome size at 523 Mb, followed by the generation of 68 Gb of Illumina paired-end reads and 59.5 Gb of Oxford Nanopore long reads, achieving over 130% genome coverage. Hi-C data totaling 141 Gb were utilized to scaffold the assembly, which resulted in 15 well-resolved chromosomes and a final genome size of 510 Mb, closely matching the initial estimate. Evaluation using BUSCO indicated a high completeness of 98.7%, with additional quality metrics such as an LAI score of 11.27 and a Merqury quality value of 33.2, confirming the genome’s suitability as a reference. Subsequent annotation efforts, integrating de novo prediction, homology alignment, and transcriptome data, identified 37,389 protein-coding genes with a BUSCO completeness of 99.2%. Repeat sequence analysis revealed that 60.93% of the genome comprises repetitive elements, including 18.78% LTRs. Comparative genomic analyses across 62 species positioned M. boisiana as closely related to Ipomoea, with divergence occurring approximately 20 million years ago. Gene family analysis uncovered an expansion of 1,377 genes in M. boisiana, particularly those involved in hormone biosynthesis and stress response, which may underlie its invasive potential. Ancestral genome reconstruction suggested a whole-genome triplication event followed by chromosomal rearrangements that shaped the current 15-chromosome structure. These rearrangements likely contributed to the retention and diversification of key genes, especially those regulating hormone pathways. Indeed, the genome harbors a rich repertoire of genes involved in auxin, salicylic acid, ABA, and jasmonic acid biosynthesis, many of which exhibit root-specific expression, pointing to their role in enhanced root development, rapid growth, and ecological competitiveness in tropical environments.

This great genome assembly of Merremia boisiana uncovers the genetic engine behind one of the world’s fastest-growing tropical vines. Its remarkable growth and resilience are underpinned by hormone biosynthesis genes and evolutionary genomic events—knowledge that not only decodes a rainforest enigma but also offers powerful tools for crop improvement and biodiversity conservation.

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References

DOI

10.48130/tp-0025-0007

Original Source URL

https://doi.org/10.48130/tp-0025-0007

About Tropical Plants

Tropical Plants (e-ISSN 2833-9851) is the official journal of Hainan University and published by Maximum Academic Press. Tropical Plants undergoes rigorous peer review and is published in open-access format to enable swift dissemination of research findings, facilitate exchange of academic knowledge and encourage academic discourse on innovative technologies and issues emerging in tropical plant research.

Funding Information

This work was supported by the startup funds for the double first-class disciplines of crop science in Hainan University (RZ2100003362), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32172614), Hainan Province Science and Technology Special Fund (ZDYF2023XDNY050), Hainan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (324RC452), and the Project of National Key Laboratory for Tropical Crop Breeding (No. NKLTCB202337). We thank the editor and anonymous reviewers for their insightful comments and suggestions.

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Journal

Tropical Plants

DOI

10.48130/tp-0025-0007 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Chromosomal reference genome of Merremia boisiana: unveiling the secrets of the tropical rainforest's killer plant

 Fungi from Yuggoth 

Endophytic fungi from halophyte Sesuvium portulacastrum enhance maize growth and salt tolerance

Maximum Academic Press

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(a) Phenotypes of eight highly salt-tolerant EF on PDA plates with different salt concentrations. (b) Growth diameter of eight EF strains shown in (a) within 7 d.

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Credit: The authors

 

This research provides key insights into how microbial inoculants can offer a cost-effective, eco-friendly strategy to enhance crop resilience in saline soils.

Soil salinization is a major global challenge that severely impacts agricultural productivity, with over 3% of the Earth’s terrestrial surface affected. It threatens food security by causing osmotic, ionic, and oxidative stress, which can reduce crop yields by more than 50%. Traditional remediation methods, such as physical and chemical interventions, are often prohibitively expensive. However, microorganisms, particularly endophytic fungi, have shown promise in enhancing plant growth and resilience under salt stress. These fungi, which live inside plant tissues without causing harm, have been found to help plants adapt to extreme environmental conditions, including salinity. Researchers are increasingly turning to beneficial microorganisms as a sustainable solution to mitigate salt stress in plants.

A study (DOI: 10.48130/tp-0025-0005) published in Tropical Plants on 19 March 2025 by Yanping Hu and Yang Zhou’s team, Hainan University, offers a cost-effective, environmentally friendly alternative to costly soil amendments.

In this study, 426 cultivable root endophytic fungi (EF) were isolated from 1,180 tissue blocks of Sesuvium portulacastrum using a tissue block method. These fungi were subjected to sequencing and analysis through the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) in the NCBI database, resulting in the classification of 426 sequences into 112 distinct operational taxonomic units (OTUs). The diversity indices of EF across 20 sampling sites varied significantly. The Shannon-Wiener index showed the highest diversity in regions such as HK-BS (2.45), and the Simpson index was highest in QH-GH (0.91). Fusarium was identified as the most prevalent genus, followed by Pleosporales and Monosporascus. A plate screening method was used to assess salt tolerance, revealing that eight EF strains, including LG-BZ-9, showed enhanced growth under saline conditions, with colony diameters 1.6 to 1.8 times larger than the control. Strain LG-BZ-9 was further evaluated for its effects on maize growth under salt stress. Results showed that maize treated with LG-BZ-9 exhibited significantly improved growth, including increased fresh weight, plant height, and chlorophyll content, compared to untreated plants exposed to 250 mM NaCl. Additionally, LG-BZ-9 treatment led to a higher potassium (K+) concentration and lower sodium (Na+) concentration in maize tissues, improving the K+/Na+ ratio and enhancing the plant's salt tolerance. These findings suggest that salt-tolerant EF such as LG-BZ-9 can improve maize growth and salt tolerance by modulating ion homeostasis, offering a promising approach for enhancing crop resilience in saline environments.

This study demonstrates the promising role of endophytic fungi from halophytes in enhancing the salt tolerance and growth of maize under saline conditions. By improving ion balance and modulating plant growth, F. incarnatum LG-BZ-9 offers a potential solution for sustainable crop production in saline-affected regions. These findings lay the groundwork for the development of microbial-based agricultural strategies that can support global efforts to combat soil salinization and ensure food security in the face of environmental challenges.

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References

DOI

10.48130/tp-0025-0005

Original Source URL

https://doi.org/10.48130/tp-0025-0005

About Tropical Plants

Tropical Plants (e-ISSN 2833-9851) is the official journal of Hainan University and published by Maximum Academic Press. Tropical Plants undergoes rigorous peer review and is published in open-access format to enable swift dissemination of research findings, facilitate exchange of academic knowledge and encourage academic discourse on innovative technologies and issues emerging in tropical plant research.

Funding Information

This study was supported by Hainan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (318QN189), Jiangsu Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (BK20241849), the Open Project of Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, Hainan Normal University, China (HNSF-OP-202303), and the Education Department of Hainan Province (Hnky2021-19, Qhys2022-100).

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Journal

Tropical Plants

DOI

10.48130/tp-0025-0005 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Endophytic fungi isolated from the roots of the coastal halophyte Sesuvium portulacastrum around Hainan Island enhance salt tolerance in maize through regulating K+/Na+ homeostasis

Board game enables autistic people to create stories about their condition

Researchers found the illustrated cards used in Dixit helped evoke emotions in a way that could bridge the gaps between people with and without autism

University of Plymouth

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A board game through which players use images on cards to develop and tell their own stories could be particularly appreciated among people with autism as it offers a means to explain their thoughts and feelings, a new study has shown.

Dixit, an award-winning game published by the French company Libellud, invites participants to select one of 84 illustrated cards which they feel matches a title suggested by the designated storyteller.

For this study, researchers asked 35 autistic participants – split into groups of between five and eight – to place a card that they felt best described autism, and then being asked to explain the reasoning for their choices.

Analysing the responses, the researchers found the cards placed by participants covered three main themes:

• Challenges – where participants chose cards that spoke to the difficulties experienced by neurodiverse people, including symptoms of autism and their effects that resulted in anxiety and exclusion;
• Strengths – where participants chose cards that spoke to the unique traits of autistic people that make them excel in certain areas;
• Society – through which participants highlighted how people’s perceptions of autism created a divide between autistic and neurotypical people that exacerbated any challenges they may already experience.

Based on this, the researchers say that playing Dixit could be particularly effective for autistic people since rather than having to come up independently with inspiration, participants could use the cards to evoke emotions about their condition.

They also believe it and similar games could go some way to creating a conducive environment for learning about different life experiences, bridging the gap between autistic and neurotypical people.

The study was published in Discover Psychology, and led by Dr Gray Atherton and Dr Liam Cross from the School of Psychology at the University of Plymouth.

Dr Atherton, the new study’s lead author, said: "Sometimes it can be hard to find the words to explain something personal and complicated. That can include how what it feels to have a condition like autism, that comes with lots of stereotypes and misperceptions. Opening up about this by playing a game, and then being able to use images to support your words, may be a real breakthrough.”

Dr Cross added: “This study adds further evidence to the idea that gamified approaches might make it easier for people to talk about difficult topics. In terms of double empathy, or the ability for people with and without autism to understand each other's lived experience, Dixit could be an important step in forming these relationships between groups. We are currently following up on this with schools to see if children can use it to more easily talk about complex topics like grief, bullying and divorce."

Dixit was one of several games played in community groups for autistic adults across the UK as part of a larger study, also led by Dr Atherton and Dr Cross, on the connections between autism and board gaming.

Previous publications as part of the same programme of research have showed that people with autism are overrepresented in the board gaming community compared to the general population, and that they felt playing modern board games provided a social outlet in a structured space.

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Journal

Discover Psychology

DOI

10.1007/s44202-025-00340-9 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Metaphors and myths: Using the board game Dixit to understand the autistic lived experience

Article Publication Date

26-May-2025

 

‘A love affair with the sea’: Meet a scientist who overcame hurdles to dedicate her life to studying the ocean

Frontiers in Ocean Sustainability author Dr. Mary Livingston reflects on her decades-long career as a marine scientist

Frontiers

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Wild weather at the entrance to Wellington Harbour from Cook Strait. Credit: Mary Livingston.

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Credit: Mary Livingston

by Dr Mary Elizabeth Livingston

In my recently published paper ‘My love affair with the sea’ I describe how from a very early age I fell in love with the sea and pursued that love throughout my younger years and at university, ending up with a 40-year career as a fisheries scientist. Political changes on how women were perceived in the workplace benefitted me and I feel incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to work in a job that has taken me to many parts of the globe and given me such a purposeful way of contributing to human and ecological wellbeing.

I am originally from the UK but moved to New Zealand as a post-graduate student in 1976. I ended up staying in this remote corner of the planet, and in 2022, I retired. But my love affair with the sea is as strong as it ever was. These days, I can be seen on the south coast of Wellington with my camera in hand trying to capture the moods and whims of the sea in Cook Strait.

Barriers to success

I believe that the stresses on women in fisheries science during my early career in the 1970s and 80s (and other related disciplines such as observers, fisheries, management, industry) were particularly great. Then, at sea and in the field, women scientists entered the world of men in New Zealand. Not only did we work in a male dominated field, but in New Zealand at least, there was a highly charged polarization between industry and conservation, which added an underlying complexity. For example, not only did I find that women at sea had to prove themselves time and again as being ‘one of the boys’, but further, we were automatically seen as ‘greenies’ or ‘bottom feeders’ - a term for creatures living on the seabed – which made it harder to work through. But, on almost every survey, there would be at least two women on the science team, and we supported each other fervently.

Lodging complaints was very difficult to do, and was not seen as a way to achieve co-operative working conditions. Biases also occurred ashore in the science institutions, but we became good at holding our own when attending science meetings and the like. It may well be that the same issues occurred across other western countries, but my experience is that in Australia, the US, the UK, Scandinavia, the EU, and Chile, fisheries science was better supported, with strong infrastructure and decision-making mechanisms, compared with New Zealand.

We had a small research vessel, RV ‘James Cook’ that was really quite unsuitable for New Zealand’s offshore waters, so we made do with chartering large research and commercial fishing vessels from other nations. Cultural and language barriers added to the challenges that we faced at sea (men and women) but more often than not, the women were better at appeasing the foreign skippers. By this I mean we demonstrated considerably higher emotional intelligence which helped smooth the pathway for successful surveys and robust data collection while on board.

A change in direction

Things did improve during the latter part of my career. Management practices became far more family friendly, and I really benefited from that. For example, my new employers were highly supportive regarding career opportunities for women and built an on-site childcare center for us to use – all part of the Equal Employment Opportunity focus of the times. At sea, more robust disciplinary processes to protect women were introduced and more serious thought was given to ensuring that women in all aspects of fisheries science were better heard.

I maintain that while there is always room for improvement regarding male-female equality, the bigger issues facing women in fisheries science today are lack of funding for the scientific monitoring and understanding of stock sustainability, and the lack of political will to champion broader investigation about oceanic ecosystems and the biological limits to wild caught fisheries. Numerous in-depth reviews have provided suggestions on how to bring together indigenous rights, science, industry, aquaculture, recreational fishers, and government, but so far, the infrastructure and commitment has not been forthcoming.

In conclusion I feel extremely lucky to have had such an interesting and challenging career. Being female can even be advantageous, but this sort of career is not for the faint-hearted. A passion for the ocean and for looking after the animals that live in it was a key part to how I kept going.

Livingston with Helen Clark, then prime minister of New Zealand, at the launch of the International Polar Year Survey, 2008. Image: NIWA.

Credit

NIWA

Journal

Frontiers in Ocean Sustainability

DOI

10.3389/focsu.2025.1584170 

Method of Research

Commentary/editorial

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

My love affair with the sea

Article Publication Date

2-Jun-2025

Marx Matters in a Deeply Unequal World in Crisis

Capitalism is crisis banner at The World Transformed. Photo credit: The World Transformed

30th May 2025Leave a Commenton Marx Matters in a Deeply Unequal World in Crisis

“Marx once said that ‘the rich will do anything for the poor but get off their backs.’ This remains true in today’s world.”

By Jon Trickett MP

Idly overhearing a conversation about class and economics between two Labour people in Parliament the other day I got to thinking about whether Marx is still relevant. One of the two people said something like “Oh, he’s an old fashioned socialist.  Thinks that Karl Marx remains relevant to what’s happening in the world today.”

I think they were talking about the American politician Bernie Sanders. Of course, Karl Marx may have lived in the 19th century, and the world has self-evidently changed a great deal over time. But his analysis of the economic structures of capitalist economies often feel as if they were written yesterday. 

He didn’t live to witness the rise of tech billionaires, global financial derivatives, or FTSE-100 CEOs earning in a day what most workers earn in a year – but he didn’t need to. He understood capitalism’s structures: its ruthless logic of accumulation, its division of society into classes, and its tendency to generate enormous wealth for a few alongside hardship for the many.

Marx once said that “the rich will do anything for the poor but get off their backs.” This remains true in today’s world. We live in a time when the five richest men on Earth have more than doubled their wealth since 2020 – rising from $405 billion to $869 billion – while nearly five billion people have seen their wealth decline. That’s not just unfair. It’s the global system doing exactly what Marx said it would do.

In Britain, nearly a third of all children – about 4.3 million – live in poverty. Globally, 333 million children are trapped in extreme poverty, and nearly a billion face multidimensional poverty: no basic access to clean water, food or  education. This isn’t misfortune. It is the result of global economic policy – a system of exploitation that Marx would recognise all too well.

Marx argued that capitalist societies are divided by class: those who own and control the means of production and those who do not. That fundamental divide hasn’t gone away. If anything, it’s become more obvious. Today, seven out of the ten largest corporations in the world are run by billionaires. These corporations control $10.2 trillion – more than the combined GDPs of all countries in Africa and Latin America.

In Britain, the top 50 families own more than the wealth of 34 million citizens combined. Meanwhile, the average salary is around £37,500 – a sum a FTSE CEO earns in less than 30 hours. In the face of such glaring inequality, even the mildest proposals for a wealth tax are met with fierce resistance by some of those with the most to lose.

And what about our tax system? It taxes income from work more heavily than income from capital. In other words, someone who works a 40-hour week pays a higher tax rate than someone who earns millions off dividends and shares. This isn’t an accident. It reflects Marx’s understanding of the modern state as an instrument of bourgeois class rule – the machinery of government defends the interests of capital over labour.

In the current cost of living crisis, millions of working class people are struggling to get by. As rent, energy bills, and food prices soar, we can see the world through Marx’s eyes. He couldn’t foresee every detail of today’s highly financialised tech capitalism, but he didn’t need to for his work to remain relevant. His analysis gives us a powerful lens to understand why, in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, children go hungry while billionaires multiply.

Perhaps the most relevant part of his critique of capitalist economics was his view of its dynamics. We can all perhaps agree that extreme inequality is unwelcome.  

But Marx proposes that the extreme wealth of some comes at the expense of the poverty of others: the ‘accumulation of wealth at one pole is at the same time the accumulation of misery, agony of toil ….at the opposite pole.’

The Left’s call for a more equal society and an economy that serves the many and not just the few, are not relics of the past. They are urgent demands rooted in an understanding that, in a capitalist system, inequality is not a temporary imperfection. It’s a permanent feature.

Marx’s legacy isn’t just in what he got right. It’s also in how he challenged us to ask who owns our world, who profits, and who pays the price. That challenge remains as relevant now as it was 150 years ago.

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• Jon Trickett is the Member of Parliament for Hemsworth: you can follow him on Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram and TikTok.
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