Changming Wang

This study investigated the effects of the foliar application of sodium silicate (SS) on phytolith formations in Dendrocalamus brandisii (Munro) Kurz. leaves by analyzing the phytolith concentration, morphological parameters, and assemblage compositions across leaves of varying ages and different phenological stages. The results showed that SS significantly increased the phytolith concentration in D. brandisii leaves, showing a trend of old leaves > mature leaves > young leaves. The concentration of phytoliths was the highest at the late shooting stage (November) and the lowest at the dormancy stage (January). August (shooting stage) and May (branching and leafing stage) were the critical periods for phytolith formation and the size and morphological variation. Sodium silicate significantly increased the proportion of saddle, bilobate, and stomatal phytoliths, which might help optimize the silicified structure of leaf epidermal cells and enhance the leaf resistance and light energy utilization efficiency. The results help clarify the mechanism of phytolith formation in different phenological periods of D. brandisii and provide a theoretical basis for the efficient use of silicon fertilizers in bamboo cultivation.

Silicon plays a positive role in plant growth and physiological activities; however, silicon fertilizer application in bamboo remains limited. This study explored the silicon accumulation and photosynthetic capacity of Dendrocalamus brandisii in response to sodium silicate (SS) foliar application across vegetative phenological stages. The results showed that August (shooting stage) and May (branching and leafing stage) were the critical periods for silicon accumulation. SS significantly enhanced the net photosynthetic rate (Pn), chlorophyll content, and photosystem activity (Fv/Fm, Fv′/Fm′), particularly in August and May. Correlation analysis revealed that silicon content was significantly positively correlated with photosynthetic parameters (Pn, chlorophyll a/b) and photoassimilate accumulation (soluble sugar, starch), confirming that silicon optimized leaf light capture and carbon assimilation capacity by promoting phytolith formation. This research provides a theoretical foundation for the application of silicon fertilizers in bamboo forest cultivation.

Phytoliths play a crucial role in plant growth and development. This paper analyzes the characterization of the culm sheath phytoliths of Bambusa vulgaris f.vittata across different geographic environments. The extraction of phytoliths was performed using microwave digestion, and the morphology of the phytolith was observed microscopically. The culm sheaths of Bambusa vulgaris f.vittata from GXNN, XSBN, GZGD, FJFZ, and FAFU Bambusa vulgaris f.vittata were selected for the study. The results indicated that the phytolith content and concentration were ranked as FJFZ > XSBN > GXNN > FAFU > GZHN, and the phytolith content and concentration were geographically significantly different. Saddle, Rondel, Silica stoma, and Scrobiculate (>70%) were observed in culm sheaths developed in different geographic environments, and phytolith morphology assemblages are largely homogeneous by genetic conservatism, but the proportion of each morphology varies across geographic environments. The main distribution of phytolith particle size ranges from 0 to 100 μm, with the highest peak in the 10–20 μm interval, followed by a decrease, and an elevation of up to 100–200 μm, followed by a significant reduction. The small size of the phytolith morphology was influenced by climatic factors. Specifically, the length, width, and area of XSBN increased with higher precipitation levels. Similarly, both the length and width of GDGZ also increased with increased precipitation. For FJFZ, the length increased with riding temperatures, while its width increased with higher precipitation. Additionally, the width of GXNN expanded with increasing temperatures. The present study supplemented the phytoliths analysis of the culm sheaths of Bambusa vulgaris f.vittata, which provided reference value for further research on the ability of Bambusa vulgaris f.vittata in carbon sequestration and other aspects, and contributed essential data for the robust development of the bamboo industry. Moreover, bamboo plants represent a significant natural solution to climate change, offering ecological, economic, and social benefits. This further encourages the protection of natural bamboo forests, the expansion of artificial cultivation, and the vigorous promotion of the bamboo industry and bamboo products. By maximizing their critical roles in forest carbon sequestration and climate regulation, bamboo plants provide a viable solution for global climate governance.

This study focused on the phytolith characteristics of leaves and culm sheaths from nine bamboo species across three genera (Bambusa Schreb., Gigantochloa Nees, and Dendrocalamus Kurz ex Munro) in the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden. By analyzing phytolith content, concentration, particle size distribution, morphometric parameters of elongated saddle-type phytoliths, and phytolith–assemblage composition, we aimed to elucidate the distribution patterns and morphological features of phytoliths in clumping bamboos, thereby providing morphological evidence for genus-level classification within the Bambusoideae. The results demonstrated the following. (1) Leaves exhibited significantly higher phytolith content and concentration than did culm sheaths across all genera, with Dendrocalamus being the sole exception, showing no significant intrageneric differences. (2) Distinct particle size distribution patterns were observed—leaves consistently peaked at 10–20 μm, whereas culm sheaths displayed triple peaks at 10–20 μm, 20–30 μm, and 900–1000 μm. (3) Morphometric analysis revealed that culm sheaths contained larger elongated saddle-type phytoliths (length, width, and area) compared to leaves across all genera. (4) Among the 37 identified phytolith morphotypes, culm sheaths exhibited greater diversity, with 35 types (dominated by rondel and elongate), while leaves contained 31 types primarily characterized by saddle and stomatal phytoliths, with elongated saddles being the most abundant. Collectively, our findings demonstrate significant morphological disparities between foliar and culm sheath phytoliths in sympodial bamboos (Bambusa), with culm sheath phytoliths exhibiting greater taxonomic potential for generic-level classification within the subfamily Bambusoideae.

Phytoliths are widely used in plant taxonomy, paleoecology, soil silicon cycling, and agricultural archaeology. Bamboo has a strong capacity for silicon absorption, and there are some phytoliths in various organs. In this paper, the leaf organs (leaf blade, leaf sheath, culm sheath, and culm blade) of three kinds of bamboos [B. vulgaris (Bambusa vulgaris), B. tulda (Bambusa tulda), and B. dolichoclada (Bambusa dolichoclada)] were studied; the content, concentration, particle size distribution, and morphological characteristics of phytoliths in leaf organs were analyzed to explore the differences of phytoliths in different functional leaf organs of bamboo. The results showed that the content and concentration of phytoliths were the highest in the leaf sheath and the lowest in the culm sheath, and the content and concentration of phytoliths in the leaf blade and culm blade were between them. For different bamboo species, the order of phytolith content was B. dolichoclada > B. tulda > B. vulgaris, while the phytolith concentration was the opposite. The highest values of phytolith particle size peak distribution in the leaf sheaths were the opposite to those in leaf blades, culm sheaths, and culm blades. The particle sizes of phytoliths of the three bamboo species showed a similar trend. Only a few larger phytolith particle sizes were distributed in leaf blades and culm blades when they were larger than 400 μm. A total of 25 types of phytoliths were identified, and the leaf sheaths were mainly elongate and rondel phytoliths. The leaf blades are mainly saddle and rondel phytoliths with a unique phytolith morphology. Culm sheaths are dominated by rondel, scrobiculate, and acute phytoliths. Culm blades are similar to leaf blades but have a characteristic phytolith morphology. In addition, saddle phytoliths were the most abundant in the leaf blade and the least in the culm sheath, while rondel phytoliths were the most abundant in the culm blade and the least in the leaf sheath. The parameters of long-saddle phytoliths are different in different bamboo species and leaf organs. According to the long saddle phytolith parameters of different bamboo species, different bamboo species can be quantitatively distinguished to a certain extent. Therefore, this study not only helps to understand the differences in phytoliths in different bamboo species and leaf organs, but also provides a theoretical basis for bamboo species classification.

Species migration or extinction events may occur on a large scale with the intensification of climate change. Plant Species with Extremely Small Populations (PSESP) are more sensitive to climate change as compared to other plants. To date, the potential effect of climate change on Acer yangbiense and Cinnamomum chago, both of which belong to PSESP, remain unknown. In this study, we modeled the distribution dynamics of A. yangbiense and C. chago spanning from the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) to the end of the 21st century based on the MaxEnt model, optimized using the Kuenm package. The results revealed that the parameter settings of the optimal models were RM (regularization multiplier) = 3.5, FC (feature combination) = QP, and RM = 2, FC = QPT. A. yangbiense and C. chago had AUCs of 0.982 and 0.993, respectively, indicating that the model predictions are highly accurate while effectively balancing complexity and avoiding overfitting. The distribution of A. yangbiense and C. chago was mostly influenced by the precipitation of the driest quarter (bio17) and the min temperature of the coldest month (bio6). From the LGM to the present, the total suitable areas of A. yangbiense and C. chago initially declined before showing a subsequent increase, but it is projected to experience significant reductions in the future, with decreases of 32.98%–64.99% and 63.48%–99.49%, respectively. The distribution centroids of A. yangbiense and C. chago showed a migration trend from south to north from the LGM to the present, and this trend is expected to continue. To enhance the resilience of A. yangbiense and C. chago to meet the challenges of climate change in the future, we proposed that the introduction and artificial cultivation of these species should be carried out in Baoshan, Dali, and Nujiang in the northwest of Yunnan Province, which were the areas with high heat values, so as to expand the populations gradually.