Comparative Analysis of Growth Traits and Metabolic Profiles in Camassia Cultivars ‘Alba’ and ‘Caerulea’ Under Varying Cultivation Conditions

This study examines the morphological growth and metabolic responses of two <i>Camassia leichtlinii</i> cultivars, 'Alba' and 'Caerulea', cultivated under three contrasting systems: open field, outdoor pots, and greenhouse (indoor pots). Morphological parameters, including leaf number, scape development, and bulb biometric traits, were assessed over two consecutive growth seasons. Parallel GC-MS metabolite profiling identified 38 major compounds encompassing sugars, fatty acids, amino acids, and organic acids. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering (HCA) effectively discriminated samples by cultivation condition, cultivar, and plant maturity. Environmental factors accounted for the largest share of metabolic variation (61%), followed by genotype (28%) and plant age (6%). The cultivar 'Caerulea' exhibited greater biomass accumulation and broader metabolic variability under greenhouse conditions, while 'Alba' maintained consistently high sucrose and glutamine levels across environments. Notably, the greenhouse environment, although strongly promoting primary metabolite accumulation, suppressed scape initiation and flowering in both cultivars, indicating a trade-off between metabolic enhancement and reproductive development under controlled conditions. These findings highlight differential adaptive strategies among <i>Camassia</i> cultivars and provide molecular insights into their carbohydrate metabolism, environmental responsiveness, and potential nutritional and phytochemical applications under diverse horticultural conditions.