Ecological Gradient Analysis and Environmental Interpretation of Cyclocarya paliurus Communities

Abstract

Cyclocarya paliurus (Batal.) Iljinsk. is mainly distributed in the subtropical areas of China. The leaves of this species are rich in beneficial secondary metabolites exhibiting bioactivity against human diseases, including hyperlipemia, diabetes, and hypertension. To explore the adaptability and distribution characteristics along the environmental gradient of this species, investigation of the characteristics of C. paliurus communities is necessary. In this study, we established 31 sample plots, each 20 m × 20 m, and comparatively analyzed the species composition, species importance value, and tree species diversity of different C. paliurus communities in 2 years. Canonical correspondence analyses were carried out: the first between tree-species importance value and 12 environmental factors, and the second between C. paliurus population-related indices and the 12 environmental factors. On the basis of these analyses, we identified tree species varying markedly in abundance in the studied C. paliurus communities. Several tree species showed adaptive characteristics similar to those of C. paliurus. We also observed that the C. paliurus importance value varied along elevational, longitudinal, and temperature gradients. Our findings should be valuable for prediction of C. paliurus adaptive areas and mixed forest afforestation in different distribution areas.

Association Analysis Between Genotype and Environment: Differentiation Between Cyclocarya paliurus Resources That Accumulate Triterpenoids

“…Our previous research has considered that altitude and longitude were significantly correlated with C. paliurus triterpenoid (Sun et al, 2021), while the conclusion did not take the genotype influence into account. In this research, according to the statistical results, total triterpenoids have shown a significant difference between genotypes, which can improve insulin resistance, improve glucolipid metabolism disorder, and have the effects of lowering blood sugar and blood lipid.…”

“…Cyclocarya paliurus is the only extant species in the Cyclocarya genus, which is distributed only in subtropical areas of China (Manchester et al, 2009;Sun et al, 2021). The leaves are rich in triterpenoids, which can improve insulin resistance and metabolism disorder of glucose and lipid, and have the effects of reducing the lipids and pressure of blood (Kurihara et al, 2003;Xie et al, 2006).…”

Triterpenoids Biosynthesis Regulation for Leaf Coloring of Wheel Wingnut (Cyclocaryapaliurus)

“…Cyclocarya paliurus (Batalin) Iljinsk. is a tree species only distributed in subtropical areas of China, and the tree leaves contain abundant health benefits such as secondary metabolite [1][2][3]. Among them, triterpenoids and flavonoids have been found to exhibit strong bioactivities.…”