Research articles
ScienceAsia 50 (2024):ID 2024055 1-10 |doi:
10.2306/scienceasia1513-1874.2024.055
Leaf flavonoids in Chinese sea-buckthorn (Hippophae
rhamnoides subsp. sinensis Rousi) and their response to
environmental gradients across northern China
Jun Yanga,†, Bo Yanga,†, Junlong Yanga, Shuang Yua, Xiaowei Lia,b,*
ABSTRACT: Changes to leaf flavonoids along environmental gradients are often related to the self-protection of
plants, reflecting the latter?s adaptability to their external environment. Yet few studies have investigated the
relationship between flavonoid and environmental factors. Here, we determined the concentrations of quercetin (QUE),
isorhamnetin (ISO), and kaempferol (KAE) in leaves of Chinese sea-buckthorn at 37 sites across northern China, and
explored the relation of these flavonoids to the environment (using Generalized Additive Modeling, collinearity of
hierarchical partitioning, and structural equation modeling). The QUE component exhibited significant changes along
the environmental gradients, while ISO changed significantly along the gradients of mean annual temperature (MAT),
altitude (ALT), soil available nitrogen (AN), and the ratio of soil available nitrogen to soil available phosphorus (AN/AP)
(p < 0.05). However, KAE changed significantly along fewer gradients, only those of mean annual precipitation (MAP),
AP, and soil available potassium (AK) (p < 0.05). After removing environmental collinearity, for the three flavonoids?
total content the order of environmental factors? influence was ALT > MAT > AN/AP > AK> AN > MAP > AP. Considered
separately, for QUE the order was ALT > MAT > AN/AP > AN > MAP; that for ISO was MAT > ALT > AN/AP > AN
> MAP; and that for KAE is AK > AP. Chinese sea-buckthorn adapts to harsh habitats by increasing QUE and ISO, with
KAE responding to specific nutrients, offering a theoretical basis for improved cultivation and economic value.
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a |
School of Agriculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021 China |
b |
State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Land Degradation and Ecological Restoration of Northwest China,
Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021 China |
* Corresponding author, E-mail: lixiaowei@nxu.edu.cn
Received 4 Jun 2023, Accepted 25 Apr 2024
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