Tree Genetics and Molecular Breeding 2025, Vol.15, No.5, 202-210 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/tgmb 203 2 Biological and Economic Basis of Torreya grandis 2.1 Botanical characteristics, distribution, and ecological role Torreya grandis is a unique evergreen large tree in China, belonging to the Taxaceae family. It is mainly distributed in the central and northern parts of the subtropical region of China (25°~32°N, 109°~121°E), including seven provinces: Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangsu, Fujian, Jiangxi, Guizhou and Hubei. The average annual temperature suitable for its growth is between 15.2℃ and 18.7℃, and the annual precipitation is between 1 000 and 1 900 mm. It prefers sandy loam or light clay soil rich in organic matter and loose in texture, with a pH value suitable for 5.2 to 6.5. The altitude distribution varies depending on the geographical location, generally ranging from 800 meters to 2 000 meters. Torreya grandis has a strong ability to adapt to the environment and can grow and bear fruit normally in places with high altitudes, abundant sunlight and low wind force. It plays a significant role in the ecosystem and is beneficial for promoting soil nutrient cycling, maintaining forest stability and protecting biodiversity. During the process of forest age succession, its regulation of elements such as carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil is also very important (Chen et al., 2023a; Fan et al., 2025). 2.2 Nutritional and medicinal compounds in seeds and other tissues The seeds of Torreya grandis (Torreya seeds) are rich in oil, with the proportion reaching 45.8% to 53.2%. Among them, polyunsaturated fatty acids are the main component, especially sciadonic acid, which has health care functions such as lowering blood lipids and preventing atherosclerosis. In addition to oils, Torreya seeds and other tissues also contain amino acids, proteins, sterols (such as β -sitosterol), flavonoids (such as kayaflavone), polyphenols and vitamin E. These components possess activities such as antioxidation, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-tumor. Torreya seeds of different varieties and forest ages vary in the content of amino acids, lipids and active components. The seeds of old trees are more nutritious (Figure 1). Torreya seed oil and its by-products have great potential in the development of food, health products and drugs (Cui et al., 2022; Wang et al., 2022b; Chen et al., 2023b; Lou et al., 2023; Gao et al., 2024). Figure 1 Identification of differentially expressed amino acids between young and old T. grandis nuts (Adopted from Chen et al., 2023b) Image caption: (A) The proportion of up-regulated metabolite categories. (B) The proportion of down-regulated metabolite categories. (C) Heatmap of differential metabolites in amino acid and derivatives between young and old T. grandis nuts (Adopted from Chen et al., 2023b) 2.3 Timber, ecological services, and cultural importance The wood of Torreya grandis is hard, dense and resistant to corrosion, making it suitable for high-end furniture, construction and handicrafts. Torreya grandis forests play a significant role in soil and water conservation, climate
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