Open Access

ARTICLE

Ecological Factors Influencing Morphology and Tropane Alkaloid Content in Anisodus tanguticus (Maxim.) Pascher

Chen Chen^1,2, Fengqin Liu¹, Jianan Li², Bo Wang², Yuanming Xiao², Tao Sun¹, Guoying Zhou^2,*

1 Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Featured Resource Plants, College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, 235000, China
2 Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Research, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Xining, 810008, China

* Corresponding Author: Guoying Zhou. Email:

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2025, 94(3), 973-986. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2025.062421

Received 18 December 2024; Accepted 06 February 2025; Issue published 31 March 2025

Abstract

Anisodus tanguticus (Maxim.) Pascher, a medicinal plant in the Solanaceae family, is widely distributed across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Its medicinal properties, particularly the tropane alkaloids, are influenced by various ecological factors, but the underlying ecological mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate how key environmental variables influence both the morphological traits and tropane alkaloid contents of A. tanguticus, with the goal of providing data to support the sustainable cultivation and management of this species. We collected samples from 71 sites across its natural habitat, analyzing the effects of factors such as soil nutrients, altitude, and climate variables on plant traits and alkaloid composition. Statistical methods including Pearson correlation analysis, multiple regression, random forest analysis, and structural equation modeling were used to identify key environmental drivers. Our results indicate that available phosphorus significantly affects aboveground traits, while Cu concentration is most influential for root development. Altitude and longitude were found to be the main determinants of biomass accumulation. Regarding alkaloid content, Mg concentration in the soil was closely linked to anisodine levels, while altitude and latitude were the primary factors influencing anisodamine and atropine content, respectively. These findings provide essential insights into the ecological factors that govern the growth and medicinal compound production in A. tanguticus. Our research not only contributes to understanding the plant’s ecological requirements but also offers practical guidelines for selecting optimal cultivation conditions to enhance both yield and alkaloid quality, supporting sustainable use and conservation of this valuable medicinal resource.

---

Keywords

---