The relationship between habitat factors and the nutrient contents of wild Allium victorialis L. in the Changbai Mountains

Abstract

Allium victorialis L. (Family: Liliaceae) is an herb with nutritional and medicinal properties. In Jilin Province, China, A. victorialis is mainly distributed in the Changbai Mountains and grows in various habitat conditions. However, the relationship between habitat factors and the nutritional quality of A. victorialis in the Changbai Mountains has not yet been examined. We assessed the nutritional quality of five A. victorialis populations growing in five different habitats in the Changbai Mountains and analyzed the relationship between nutritional quality and habitat factors. Allium victorialis populations in this region were primarily found in the undergrowth at elevations above 500 m and within specific ranges of air temperature, air relative humidity, soil temperature, and soil water content. Among the habitat factors investigated, canopy density significantly affected several nutritional components of A. victorialis; however, elevation had a significant effect only on the total flavonoid content, and the vitamin C content was not strongly associated with the main habitat factors in this study. During germplasm selection and artificial cultivation, it is important to simulate the growth conditions of the original habitat. Our results provide useful information for site selection and environmental condition optimization for the artificial cultivation of A. victorialis.