Stem canker of Zanthoxylum bungeanum is a devastating disease that seriously affects the plantation and industrial development of Z. bungeanum due to a lack of effective control measures. The objective of this study was to screen out resistant Z. bungeanum varieties and further explore their resistance mechanisms against stem canker. Results showed that the most resistant and susceptible varieties were, respectively, Doujiao (DJ) and Fengxian Dahongpao (FD). Combining transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses, we found that the genes and metabolites associated with the phenylpropanoid metabolism, especially flavonoid biosynthesis, were highly significantly enriched in DJ following pathogen infection compared with that in FD, which indicated that the flavonoid metabolism may positively dominate the resistance of Z. bungeanum. This finding was further confirmed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis, through which higher expression levels of core genes involved in flavonoid metabolism in resistant variety were observed. Moreover, by analyzing the differences in the flavonoid content in the stems of resistant and susceptible varieties and the antifungal activities of flavonoids extracted from Z. bungeanum stems, the conclusion that flavonoid metabolism positively regulates the resistance of Z. bungeanum was further supported. Our results not only aid in better understanding the resistance mechanisms of Z. bungeanum against stem canker but also promote the breeding and utilization of resistant varieties.

Real-time reverse transcription quantitative PCR has become a common method for studying gene expression, however, the optimal selection of stable reference genes is a prerequisite for obtaining accurate quantification of transcript abundance. Suitable reference genes for RT-qPCR have not yet been identified for Chinese prickly ash (Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim.). Chinese prickly ash is the source of an important food seasoning in China. In recent years, Chinese prickly ash has also been developed as a medicinal plant. The expression stabilities of ten genes (18S, 28S, EF, UBA, UBQ, TIF, NTB, TUA, RPS, and TIF5A) were evaluated in roots, stems, leaves, flowers and fruits at five developmental stages and also under stress from cold, drought, and salt. To do this we used three different statistical algorithms: geNorm, NormFinder and BestKeeper. Among the genes investigated, UBA and UBQ were found to be most stable for the different cultivars and different tissues examined, UBQ and TIF for fruit developmental stage. Meanwhile, EF and TUA were most stable under cold treatment, EF and UBQ under drought treatment and NTB and RPS under salt treatment. UBA and UBQ for all samples evaluated were most stably expressed, but 18S, TUA and RPS were found to be generally unreliable as reference genes. Our results provide a basis for the future selection of reference genes for biological research with Chinese prickly ash, under a variety of conditions.

Distinctive plant communities may provide specific physical and chemical properties with soils by specific litters and root exudates to exert effects on soil microorganisms. Past logging activities in the Qinling Mountains induced diverse natural secondary forest types (NSFTs). How these recovered NSFTs regulate patterns of soil microbial communities remain limited. In the study, we used terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) to precisely determine forest type-specific soil fungal diversity and composition in five NSFTs. Our results indicated that NSFTs had significant impacts on the soil fungal communities. The most diverse fungal species were found in the Armand pine (Pinus armandi) and Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis) forest soils, followed by sharptooth oak (Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata) and Chinese pine-sharptooth oak forest soils, the wilson spruce (Picea wilsonii) forests had the lowest soil fungal diversity. The analyses of community composition suggested that the fungal communities of Armand pine forest soils were similar to those of Chinese pine forest soils, while other communities prominently differed from each other. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that soil silt, clay, pH, and ammonium nitrogen had intimate linkages with soil fungal diversity. Furthermore, the patterns of soil fungal communities were strongly governed by the specific soil environments of the tested NSFTs, as described by canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). Finally, our study showed that soil fungal communities may be mediated by NSFTs via specific soil edaphic status. Hence, such a comparable study may provide fundamental information for fungal diversity and community structure of natural forests and assist with better prediction and understanding how soil fungal composition and function alter with forest type transformation.