Correlation Analysis of Soil Microbial Communities and Physicochemical Properties with Growth Characteristics of Sageretia thea Across Different Habitats

This study aimed to investigate the growth characteristics of <i>Sageretia thea</i> and analyze the correlations between soil physicochemical properties and microbial communities in its native habitats. Soil physicochemical properties were characterized by organic matter (0.37-36.43%), available phosphate (57.96-315.90 mg/kg), potassium (0.11-1.17 cmol⁺kg^-1), calcium (1.23-25.97 cmol⁺kg^-1), magnesium (0.43-15.01 cmol⁺kg^-1), sodium (0.04-6.16 cmol⁺kg^-1), and pH (4.68-7.05), indicating slightly acidic to neutral conditions. <i>S. thea</i> exhibited variable growth characteristics across habitats; leaf length and width were largest in Jangnam-ri and Hacka-ri, respectively, whereas Docheong-ri promoted higher fruit growth. The soil microbial community composition was dominated by <i>Proteobacteria</i>, <i>Actinobacteria</i>, and <i>Acidobacteria</i> at the phylum level (76.09%) and by <i>Alphaproteobacteria</i>, <i>Actinobacteria_c</i>, and <i>Vicinamibacter_c</i> at the class level (40%). Soil physicochemical properties were significantly correlated with Actinobacteria, <i>Acidobacteria</i>, and <i>Chloroflexi</i> at the phylum level, and all microbial groups except <i>Spartobacteria</i> at the class level. <i>Furthermore</i>, growth characteristics were significantly correlated with all microbial communities except <i>Acidobacteria</i> and <i>Firmicutes</i> at the phylum level, and <i>Acidobacteria</i>, <i>Thermoleophilia</i>, and <i>Rubrobacteria</i> at the class level. These findings provide a foundation for developing efficient cultivation techniques for <i>S. thea</i> based on its soil microbiome and habitat conditions.