Contrasting Adaptation Mechanisms of Golden Camellia Species to Different Soil Habitats Revealed by Nutrient Characteristics

Golden Camellia species are highly specific to certain soil environments. Most species are only native to calcareous soils in karst regions, except for a few that grow only in acidic soils. Our aim is to elucidate the adaptation mechanisms of the species of calcareous-soil golden Camellia (CSC) and acidic-soil golden Camellia (ASC) to habitat soils through plant-soil nutrient characteristics and their relationships. We investigated 30 indices for soils and plants. Compared with ASC, CSC had more fertile soil, while their plant tissues exhibited stronger Ca, P, and Mn and weaker K storage, which may be important mechanisms for adapting to habitat soils. However, ASC showed a higher biological absorption coefficient (BAC) for nutrients, which may contribute to the adaptation of ASC to relatively barren acidic soils. Both CSC and ASC showed much higher BAC and accumulation of Ca than other nutrients. We also found that the concentrations of nutrients in the different tissues varied considerably between species. Correlation analysis revealed 135 significant relationships between the 30 indices, with the soil pH and soil Ca levels being the most important factors influencing the nutrient uptake network. This information helps in understanding the adaptation mechanisms of karst plants to habitat soils.

Automated summary

Golden Camellia species have high specificity to certain soil environments. The adaptation mechanisms of calcareous-soil golden Camellia (CSC) and acidic-soil golden Camellia (ASC) to habitat soils were investigated through plant-soil nutrient characteristics and their relationships. CSC had more fertile soil but exhibited stronger Ca, P, and Mn storage in plant tissues compared to ASC. However, ASC showed higher nutrient absorption coefficient, which may contribute to its adaptation to acidic soils. Soil pH and soil Ca levels were found to be the most important factors influencing the nutrient uptake network.