ANALYSIS OF QUALITY TRAIT DIFFERENCES AMONG DIFFERENT CULTIVARS OF CAMELLIA CHRYSANTHA

Camellia chrysantha is a precious and rare plant with numerous cultivars.To clarify the differences in quality traits among cultivars and provide a basis for future classification and superior germplasm selection, this study evaluated 20 cultivars of C. chrysantha using ecological, UVspectrophotometry, and statistical methods.The results showed significant differences in phenotypic traits among the 20 cultivars, indicating rich genetic diversity.The cultivars with the highest leaf yield were C. chrysantha var.conspicua, while the lowest was C. chrysantha var.wumingensis.The chemical component content showed significant differences among the cultivars.C. chrysantha var.flava had the highest total flavonoid content, C. chrysantha var.longzhouensis had the highest total polyphenol content, and C. chrysantha var.dongxingensis had the highest polysaccharide content.Principal component and cluster analyses identified high-quality cultivars, including C. chrysantha var.longrui, nonggangensis, longzhouensis, flava, tenuifolia, pilosa, conspicua, concava, and enchengensis, mainly distributed in Fangcheng, Ningming, Longzhou, and Daxin areas.These regions have subtropical and South Asian monsoon climates, with ideal environmental conditions for the growth of C. chrysantha, including temperature, rainfall, sunlight, and humidity.The study concluded that there are significant differences in quality traits among the 20 cultivars of C. chrysantha, providing an important basis for the classification and selection of superior germplasm.