International Journal of Molecular Evolution and Biodiversity, 2025, Vol.15, No.2, 99-110 http://ecoevopublisher.com/index.php/ijmeb 100 2 Distribution and Ecological Environment of Lindera aggregata Germplasm Resources in Qingchuan County 2.1 Geographic distribution of Lindera aggregatain Qingchuan county Lindera aggregata, as a representative of Lauraceae, has shown strong ecological adaptability in Qingchuan County. This species is mainly distributed in the transition zone between subtropical and temperate zones, especially in mountain forests with lush vegetation. Its natural population is mostly found in valley bottoms, gentle slopes of hills and low-altitude mountains, which create a relatively stable ecological barrier for Lindera aggregata. Field surveys in recent years have shown that Lindera aggregata mostly chooses semi-shaded and humid environments to grow in Qingchuan County, showing a high sensitivity to specific microecological conditions (Gu et al., 2010). The core environmental factors that determine its geographical distribution include soil type, climate background and altitude. The acidic soil commonly found in Qingchuan has rich organic matter content and good drainage, which provides a suitable matrix for the growth of Lindera aggregata. In terms of vertical distribution, the plant is mostly concentrated in areas with an altitude of 500–1200 meters, showing obvious belt spectrum characteristics. In addition, its distribution density is closely related to the average annual temperature and precipitation. Data show that Linderae odorifera is best distributed in areas with an average annual temperature of 15–22°C, moderate precipitation, and no extreme climate disturbance ( Ye et al., 2021 ). 2.2 Major phenotypic characteristics of Lindera aggregata Lindera aggregata in Qingchuan area shows high diversity in morphological characteristics, covering differences in multiple biological traits and growth habits. This species often exists in the form of deciduous shrubs or small trees, with plant heights ranging from 2 to 5 meters. Its leaves are mostly oblong to ovate, which is one of the important external characteristics for identifying the plant. In particular, different natural populations show obvious differentiation in leaf length, width and color, suggesting that there may be rich variation resources at the genetic level (Gu et al., 2010). As the main medicinal part, the rhizome of Lindera aggregata is enriched with a variety of active ingredients, especially volatile oils and alkaloids (Figure 1) (Huang et al., 2023), which also provides an important material basis for its efficacy research. Figure 1 Morphology and Medicinal Parts of Lindera aggregata(Adopted from Huang et al., 2023) Image caption: (a) Whole plant, (b) medicinal portion, and (c) commercial herbal pieces of Lindera aggregata (Adopted from Huang et al., 2023) The unique reproduction system of Lindera aggregata provides a natural guarantee for the maintenance of its population genetic diversity. The plant is dioecious, and its small yellow-green flowers rely on cross-pollination to complete the sexual reproduction process. This kind of reproduction mechanism effectively promotes gene exchange within the population, enhances the ability of genetic recombination, and lays a genetic foundation for adapting to changing environments. Through systematic observation of phenotypic characteristics such as leaf shape, floral structure and fruit morphology, the genetic mechanisms implied by these external trait variations are gradually revealed.
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