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Ecological Functions of Bamboo Forests: Research and Application—2nd Edition

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A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Ecology and Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 13372

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Dr. Xiaoping Zhang

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Guest Editor

China National Bamboo Research Center, Hangzhou 310012, China
Interests: soil organic carbon; microbial community; bamboo; metagenomics; endophyte
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Zhanchao Cheng

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Guest Editor

International Center for Bamboo and Rattan, Beijing 100102, China
Interests: moso bamboo, floral transition, floal organ, flower development, rapid growth

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bamboo is an important forest resource in subtropical and tropical regions. Due to biological its characteristics and growth habits, bamboo not only brings economic benefits but also has enormous potential for alleviating many environmental problems. Environmental changes have threatened bamboo ecosystems, but the determinant factors of responses, functions, and managements remain unclear. In this Special Issue, we welcome articles that address bamboo in response to environmental changes, as well as articles that address strategies to improve the ecological function of bamboo forests or reduce the negative impacts of management activities.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

Carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) cycles in bamboo ecosystem;
Microbial community and functions in bamboo forests;
Response of bamboo physiology and development to environmental changes;
Bamboo for phytoremediation;
Bamboo carbon sequestration;
Silviculture of bamboo forests;
Bamboo forest ecological recreation function.

Dr. Xiaoping Zhang
Prof. Dr. Zhanchao Cheng
Guest Editors

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Keywords

nutrient cycling
carbon sequestration
bamboo development
bamboo invasion
bamboo microbiome
ecological function

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Research

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15 pages, 3174 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Different Moso Bamboo Densities on the Physiological Growth of Indocalamus latifolius Cultivated in Moso Bamboo Forests

by Huijing Ni, Jiancheng Zhao and Zhenya Yang

Forests 2025, 16(4), 636; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16040636 - 5 Apr 2025

Viewed by 200

Abstract

Cultivating Indocalamus latifolius in moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) forests is a technique in a compound economical and ecological agroforestry system. However, the impacts of different moso bamboo densities on the physiological growth of I. latifolius remain unclear. The aim of this study was to elucidate the adaptation mechanism of I. latifolius to the environment in forests with different moso bamboo densities. One-year-old I. latifolius seedlings were planted in moso forests with four different densities (CK: 0 plants·ha⁻¹; T1: 1050 plants·ha⁻¹; T2: 2100 plants·ha⁻¹; T3: 3150 plants·ha⁻¹) for two years. The biomass and contents of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), starch (ST), and soluble sugars (SSs) in old leaves, new leaves, stems, rhizomes and roots of I. latifolius, as well as leaf functional traits [leaf length (LL), leaf width (LW), leaf thickness (LT), leaf area (LA), specific leaf area (SLA), and leaf tissue density (LTD)] and root morphology [root surface area (RSA), root length (RL), root diameter (RD), and specific root length (SRL)] were measured. With the increase in moso bamboo density, the biomass of various organs of I. latifolius showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing, and all reached the highest level under treatment T1. Compared with the CK, treatments T1, T2, and T3 significantly increased the LL, LW, LT, LA, RL, RSA, RD, and length ratio of thicker roots (diameter > 2 mm) of I. latifolius, while significantly decreasing the SRL, SLA, and length ratio of finer roots (diameter ≤ 0.2 mm). Treatments T1, T2, and T3 significantly reduced the N content in the stems and rhizomes, the P content in the old leaves, and the SS content in the new leaves, and they increased the P content and K content in new leaves, stems, rhizomes, and roots; the N content in roots; and the starch contents in old leaves and new leaves. Treatment T1 significantly increased the N content in old leaves and the SS contents and the SS/ST of old leaves, roots, and rhizomes, and it decreased the N content in new leaves and the ST contents in roots, rhizomes and stems. Our results indicated that moso bamboo forests with low density can effectively promote the growth of I. latifolius in the forest. I. latifolius adapts to the shading and the root competition of moso bamboo by expanding the leaf area and promoting root growth. In this process, it supports the morphological plasticity of leaves and roots through the mechanisms of reabsorbing P and K and the directional transportation of photosynthetic products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Functions of Bamboo Forests: Research and Application—2nd Edition)

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22 pages, 9449 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Intercropping Shapes the Metabolome and Microbiome of Medicinal Giant Lily (Cardiocrinum giganteum) in Bamboo, Chinese Fir, and Mixed Forests

by Jie Zhang, Yilin Ning, Haoyu Wu, Guibin Gao, Zhizhuang Wu, Yuwen Peng, Zhiyuan Huang and Xiaoping Zhang

Forests 2024, 15(12), 2201; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15122201 - 13 Dec 2024

Viewed by 761

Abstract

Intercropping is a promising strategy for sustainable medicinal plant cultivation, but its impact on plant–microbe interactions remains poorly understood. This study investigated the influence that intercropping giant lily (Cardiocrinum giganteum) with bamboo (BG), Chinese fir (FG), and mixed forests (MG) had on the giant lily metabolome and microbiome compared to a monoculture control (GG). Metabolomic analysis revealed that BG significantly increased the accumulation of terpenoids (e.g., yucalexin B22, 19.39-fold), alkaloids (e.g., anabasine, 2.97-fold), and steroids (e.g., O-acetyl-lariciresinol, 4.49-fold), while MG induced the production of stress-related metabolites (e.g., aflatoxin G2, 128.62-fold), and FG enhanced nitrogen metabolism (e.g., putrescine, 2.47-fold). Intercropping altered the rhizosphere and endophytic microbial communities, with BG enriching beneficial bacteria (e.g., Acidobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria) and FG promoting symbiotic fungi (e.g., Serendipita and Xylariales). Network analysis revealed strong correlations between specific microbial taxa (e.g., Bacillus and Ceratobasidiaceae) and key metabolites (e.g., norpandamarilactonine A, methylgingerol), indicating their potential roles in shaping the metabolic profiles of giant lily. These findings highlight the complex interplay between intercropping systems, microbial communities, and medicinal plant metabolism and provide a basis for developing targeted cultivation strategies to enhance the production of bioactive compounds in giant lily and other medicinal plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Functions of Bamboo Forests: Research and Application—2nd Edition)

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18 pages, 6059 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Moso Bamboo’s Survival Strategy Against Chilling Stress in Signaling Dynamics

by Xiong Jing, Chunju Cai, Pengfei Geng and Yi Wang

Forests 2024, 15(12), 2132; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15122132 - 2 Dec 2024

Viewed by 921

Abstract

Phyllostachys edulis, an economically and ecologically significant bamboo species, has substantial research value in applications as a bamboo substitute for plastic and in forest carbon sequestration. However, frequent seasonal low-temperature events due to global climate change affect the growth, development, and productivity of P. edulis. Calcium signaling, serving as a versatile second messenger, is involved in various stress responses and nitrogen metabolism. In this study, we analyzed the calcium signaling dynamics and regulatory strategies in P. edulis under chilling stress. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from the CBF families, AMT families, NRT families, and Ca²⁺ sensor families, including CaM, CDPK, and CBL, were identified using transcriptomics. Additionally, we explored the law of Ca²⁺ flux and distribution in the roots of P. edulis under chilling stress and validated these findings by assessing the content or activity of Ca²⁺ sensor proteins and nitrogen transport proteins in the roots. The results indicated that the Ca²⁺ sensor families of CaM, CDPK, and CBL in P. edulis exhibited significant transcriptional changes under chilling stress. Notably, PH02Gene03957, PH02Gene42787, and PH02Gene19300 were significantly upregulated, while the expressions of PH02Gene08456, PH02Gene01209, and PH02Gene37879 were suppressed. In particular, the expression levels of the CBF family gene PH02Gene14168, a downstream target gene of the calcium channels, increased significantly. P. edulis exhibited an influx of Ca²⁺ at the root, accompanied by oscillating negative peaks under chilling stress. Spatially, the cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]_cyt) within the root cells increased. The CIPK family genes, interacting with Ca²⁺-CBL in downstream signaling pathways, showed significant differential expressions. In addition, the expressions of the NRT and AMT family genes changed correspondingly. Our study demonstrates that Ca²⁺ signaling is involved in the regulatory network of P. edulis under chilling stress. [Ca²⁺]_cyt fluctuations in the roots of P. edulis are induced by chilling stress, reflecting an influx of extracellular Ca²⁺. Upon binding to Ca²⁺, downstream target genes from the CBF family are activated. Within the Ca²⁺–CBL–CIPK signaling network, the CIPK family plays a crucial role in nitrogen metabolism pathways. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Functions of Bamboo Forests: Research and Application—2nd Edition)

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14 pages, 3309 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) Expansion on the Water Use Patterns of Broadleaf Trees

by Xiaoxia Zeng, Chao Gong, Jian Lu, Guohai Huang, Chengjie Fu, Yanhua Yu, Huan Ran, Qingni Song, Dongmei Huang, Jun Liu and Qingpei Yang

Forests 2024, 15(11), 1984; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15111984 - 10 Nov 2024

Viewed by 840

Abstract

The expansion of bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) affects the growth status of trees in colonized forests, but there has been insufficient research on changes in tree water physiology. In this study, we used stable δ²H, δ¹⁸O, and ¹³C isotope ratios to analyze the water sources and water use efficiency (WUE) of bamboo, deciduous broadleaf trees (Alniphyllum fortunei), and evergreen broadleaf trees (Machilus pauhoi and Castanopsis eyrei) in a bamboo-expended broadleaf forest (BEBF), a bamboo-absent broadleaf forest (BABF), and a bamboo forest (BF). We found that the expansion of bamboo had no significant effect on the water sources and WUE of deciduous broadleaf trees, but altered the water sources of evergreen broadleaf trees. During the growing season, evergreen broadleaf trees decrease their uptake fractions of surface soil water by 7.1% to 9.6% and increased their uptake fractions of middle soil water by 5.8%~9.4%. Conversely, during the non-growing season, they increased their uptake fractions of surface soil water by 11.9% and decreased their uptake fractions of deeper soil water by 5.6%~12.9%. Additionally, after expanding into broadleaf forests, bamboo increased its uptake proportion of surface and shallow soil water by 20.0% and 9.4% during the growing season. Its WUE also improved, increasing by 20.0 μmol/mol and 13.0 μmol/mol during the growing and non-growing seasons, respectively. These results indicate that as bamboo expands into broadleaf forests, it enhances its competitiveness for water resources by changing its water use strategy. Compared to deciduous broadleaf trees, evergreen broadleaf trees exhibit more flexible water use strategies under the conditions of bamboo expansion. Our research reveals, for the first time, how broadleaf trees adjust their water use strategies in response to bamboo expansion, and uncovers the mechanisms behind bamboo expansion into evergreen broadleaf forests from the perspective of water use strategies. This will aid future forest management under the conditions of bamboo expansion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Functions of Bamboo Forests: Research and Application—2nd Edition)

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16 pages, 7897 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integrated Transcriptome and Metabolome Analyses Provided Insight into the Variation in Quality of Green Bamboo (Bambusa oldhamii) Shoots at Different Growth Stages

by Yuelin He, Xiangmei Cao, Kaiting Pan, Wenhui Shi and Yeqing Ying

Forests 2024, 15(9), 1582; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15091582 - 9 Sep 2024

Viewed by 1306

Abstract

Green bamboo (Bambusa oldhamii) shoots are not only delicious but also highly nutritious. However, their palatability and quality changed significantly upon being unearthed, making them unsuitable for commercial sale and subsequently diminishing their market value. To clarify the mechanisms that regulate the quality of green bamboo shoots at different growth stages, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the metabolome and transcriptome at the unearthed height of 0 cm (H0), 5 cm (H5), and 10 cm (H10). Metabolome analysis identified 149 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) among H0, H5, and H10, primarily comprising phenolic acids, lipids and flavonoids. Metabolic pathways enriched by these DAMs included phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, phenylalanine metabolism, flavonoid biosynthesis, linoleic acid metabolism and alpha-linolenic acid metabolism. Further transcriptome analysis identified 2976 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) among H0, H5, and H10. Additionally, KEGG analysis indicated that these DEGs mainly enriched pathways associated with metabolic pathways, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and phenylalanine metabolism. We screened out 10 DEGs and 16 intermediate metabolites of these pathways. Furthermore, we identified six DEGs with expression patterns highly correlated with the content of lignin and the total flavonoids from H0 to H5 and H10. Finally, RT-qPCR analysis of six genes validated the transcriptome sequencing data. Our findings indicate significant quality variations in green bamboo shoots from H0 to H5 and H10. These variations are closely related to key genes involved in the synthesis of lignin and flavonoids, which result in the flavor and quality changes of green bamboo shoots from the belowground stage to unearthed stage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Functions of Bamboo Forests: Research and Application—2nd Edition)

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17 pages, 2569 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Nitrogen Fertilizer Application on Soil Organic Carbon and Its Active Fractions in Moso Bamboo Forests

by Haoyu Chu, Wenhui Su, Shaohui Fan, Xianxian He and Zhoubin Huang

Forests 2024, 15(9), 1483; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15091483 - 24 Aug 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1407

Abstract

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a crucial indicator of soil quality and fertility. However, excessive nitrogen (N) application, while increasing Moso bamboo yield, may reduce SOC content, potentially leading to soil quality issues. The impact of N on SOC and its active fraction in Moso bamboo forests remains underexplored. Investigating these effects will elucidate the causes of soil quality decline and inform effective N management strategies. Four N application gradients were set: no nitrogen (0 kg·hm⁻²·yr⁻¹, N0), low nitrogen (242 kg·hm⁻²·yr⁻¹, N1), medium nitrogen (484 kg·hm⁻²·yr⁻¹, N2), and high nitrogen (726 kg·hm⁻²·yr⁻¹, N3), with no fertilizer application as the control (CK). We analyzed the changes in SOC, active organic carbon components, and the Carbon Pool Management Index (CPMI) under different N treatments. The results showed that SOC and its active organic carbon components in the 0~10 cm soil layer were more susceptible to N treatments. The N0 treatment significantly increased microbial biomass carbon (MBC) content but had no significant effect on SOC, particulate organic carbon (POC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and readily oxidizable organic carbon (ROC) contents. The N1, N2, and N3 treatments reduced SOC content by 29.36%, 21.85%, and 8.67%, respectively. Except for POC, N1,N2 and N3 treatments reduced MBC, DOC, and ROC contents by 46.29% to 71.69%, 13.98% to 40.4%, and 18.64% to 48.55%, respectively. The MBC/SOC ratio can reflect the turnover rate of SOC, and N treatments lowered the MBC/SOC ratio, with N1 < N2 < N3, indicating the slowest SOC turnover under the N1 treatment. Changes in the Carbon Pool Management Index (CPMI) illustrate the impact of N treatments on soil quality and SOC sequestration capacity. The N1 treatment increased the CPMI, indicating an improvement in soil quality and SOC sequestration capacity. The comprehensive evaluation index of carbon sequestration capacity showed N3 (−0.69) < N0 (−0.13) < CK (−0.05) < N2 (0.24) < N1 (0.63), with the highest carbon sequestration capacity under the N1 treatment and a gradual decrease with increasing N fertilizer concentration. In summary, although the N1 treatment reduced the SOC content, it increased the soil CPMI and decreased the SOC turnover rate, benefiting soil quality and SOC sequestration capacity. Therefore, the reasonable control of N fertilizer application is key to improving soil quality and organic carbon storage in Moso bamboo forests. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Functions of Bamboo Forests: Research and Application—2nd Edition)

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16 pages, 6388 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Analysis of Alternative Splicing in Moso Bamboo and Its Dwarf Mutant, Phyllostachys edulis ‘Tubaeformis’

by Zhenhua Qiu, Yuanyuan Sun, Yanhui Su, Long Cheng, Dong Liu, Shuyan Lin and Long Li

Forests 2024, 15(7), 1233; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15071233 - 15 Jul 2024

Viewed by 1186

Abstract

Internode length is a crucial phenotypic trait of bamboo, significantly impacting its processing and utilization. Phyllostachys edulis ‘Tubaeformis’ (Shengyin Bamboo), a variety of Moso bamboo, exhibits drastically shortened internodes, making it a valuable ornamental bamboo species. We used PacBio single-molecule long-read sequencing and second-generation sequencing to identify genome-wide alternative splicing (AS) events in Moso bamboo and its dwarf mutant, Shengyin bamboo, and compared the differences between the two. Our sequencing data unveiled 139,539 AS events, with retained introns as the most prevalent events. A large number of genes were differentially alternatively spliced (DAS) between Moso bamboo and Shengyin bamboo, and genes related to RNA splicing were most significantly enriched. The high expression of SR isoforms in the 24th internode of Moso bamboo is likely the main factor leading to its greater number of alternative splicing events. Alternative splicing affects the functional domains of partial GRF, E2F, and NAM isoforms, leading to the loss of domains in some isoforms and enabling some isoforms to acquire new functional domains, and this phenomenon is more common in Shengyin bamboo. AS modifies the functional domains of certain GRF isoforms, frequently resulting in domain losses or endowing isoforms with novel domains, and this phenomenon is more common in Shengyin bamboo. We used PacBio single-molecule long-read sequencing and second-generation sequencing to identify genome-wide alternative splicing (AS) events in Moso bamboo and its dwarf mutant, Shengyin Bamboo and compared the differences between the two. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Functions of Bamboo Forests: Research and Application—2nd Edition)

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13 pages, 2552 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Stoichiometric Homeostasis of N and P in the Leaves of Different-Aged Phyllostachys edulis after Bamboo Forest Expansion in Subtropical China

by Jingxin Shen, Shaohui Fan, Jiapeng Zhang and Guanglu Liu

Forests 2024, 15(7), 1181; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15071181 - 8 Jul 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 980

Abstract

Stoichiometric homeostasis is an important mechanism in maintaining ecosystem structure, function, and stability. Phyllostachys edulis (moso bamboo) is a typical clone plant, forming pure bamboo forests or bamboo–wood mixed forests by expanding rhizomes around. Studying the stoichiometric homeostasis characteristics of moso bamboo at different ages after expansion contributes to a deeper understanding of the stability of bamboo forest ecosystems, and is of great significance for expanding the research scope of ecological stoichiometry. Based on the stoichiometric internal stability theory, the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) elements in the soil and plants of typical moso bamboo forests in Tianbaoyan National Nature Reserve of Fujian Province were determined, and the internal stability index (H) of bamboo leaves of different ages (I-du, II-du, III-du, and IV-du bamboos) was calculated. The results showed that the dependence of moso bamboo on soil nutrients and the ability of moso bamboo to regulate nutrient elements were both significantly affected by the plant’s age. Under the condition of the same soil nutrients (N, P), the content of N and P in bamboo leaves decreased significantly with the increase in bamboo age. The limiting effect of phosphorus on the growth and development of moso bamboo was greater than that of nitrogen, and the limiting effect of phosphorus on aged bamboo was greater than that of young bamboo. The stoichiometric internal stability index of N and P in bamboo leaves is H_N:P > H_N > H_P, which means that the internal stability of moso bamboo is closely related to the limiting elements. Therefore, the regulation ability of the internal stability of moso bamboo of different ages makes it grow well in the changeable environment, has stronger adaptability and competitiveness, and the leaf internal stability of I-du bamboo was higher than that of other ages, which may be one of the reasons for its successful expansion to form a stable bamboo stand structure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Functions of Bamboo Forests: Research and Application—2nd Edition)

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17 pages, 2886 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Response of Soil Microbial Community Structure and Diversity to Mixed Proportions and Mixed Tree Species in Bamboo–Broad-Leaved Mixed Forests

by Meiman Zhang, Fengying Guan, Shaohui Fan and Xuan Zhang

Forests 2024, 15(6), 921; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15060921 - 25 May 2024

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1680

Abstract

Bamboo and broad-leaved mixed forests have been widely recognized for their advantages in maintaining ecological balance, improving soil fertility, and enhancing biodiversity. To understand the effects of mixed broad-leaved tree species and mixing ratios on soil microbial communities in bamboo and broad-leaved mixed forests, we quantified the structure and diversity responses of soil microbial communities to tree species and mixing ratios using high-throughput sequencing of the 16 S rRNA gene. Three bamboo and broad-leaved tree mixed forests were studied, including bamboo–Castanopsis chinensis Hance mixed forest (CCB), bamboo–Alniphyllum fortune (Hemsl.) Makino mixed forest (AFB), and bamboo–Choerospondias axillaris (Roxb.) B. L. Burtt & A. W. Hill mixed forest (CAB). We assessed the impact of tree species and mixing ratios on soil microbial communities by measuring soil properties and the diversity and composition of soil microbes. The results indicate that soil properties and the diversity and composition of microbial communities are highly dependent on broad-leaved tree species in mixed forests. The mixing ratios had a more pronounced effect on microbial diversity than on richness. In CAB, diversity peaked at mixing ratios of 10%–20% and 20%–40%. The presence of broad-leaved trees significantly altered the relationships among soil bacteria, with CAB showing the highest stability, likely due to the increased diversity and quantity of litter from Choerospondias axillaris. Our results show that the choice of broad-leaved tree species and their mixing ratios significantly influence soil microbial diversity and composition in bamboo–broad-leaf mixed forests. An optimal mixing ratio in CAB can maximize bacterial diversity and stability, providing insights for forest management and promoting ecosystem health and sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Functions of Bamboo Forests: Research and Application—2nd Edition)

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Review

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16 pages, 3660 KiB

Open AccessReview

Bamboo Breeding Strategies in the Context of “Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic Initiative”

by Xiaohua Li and Huayu Sun

Forests 2024, 15(7), 1180; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15071180 - 6 Jul 2024

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2901

Abstract

Bamboo breeding strategies are essential in realizing “Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic (BASP)”. This review article aims to explore the crucial role of breeding strategies in achieving the substitution of plastic products with bamboo as outlined under the BASP Initiative. Firstly, we address the issue of plastic pollution, along with the background of reducing the market share and demand for plastic products. It categorizes the types of bamboo products that can fully or partially replace plastic products in various categories, such as daily necessities, building materials, and industrial products. Then, we investigate which bamboo species can replace which plastic products and propose the need for bamboo improvement. Furthermore, it presents data from positioning observation research stations for bamboo forest ecosystems in China and outlines the essential traits necessary for bamboo substitution, including characteristics like long internode length, extended fiber length, thick culm wall, and optimal cellulose-to-lignin content ratio, among others. Finally, we discuss breeding methods and genetic improvement as key strategies to achieve bamboo substitution and suggest the potential of enhancing bamboo traits to serve as a viable replacement source for plastics. This comprehensive approach aims to enhance bamboo’s growth features and physical properties to meet the criteria for substituting bamboo for plastics effectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Functions of Bamboo Forests: Research and Application—2nd Edition)

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