Collection and evaluation of Camellia oleifera germplasm in the tropical areas of China
A germplasm survey of Camellia oleifera was made in tropical areas of China from October to December 2021,and their geographical distribution,habitats,morphological characteristics,and correlation and variability with the economic traits were analyzed for evaluation.A total of 230 tropical Camellia oleifera germplasm resources were collected in 18 cities and counties in three provinces(Hainan,Guangxi,and Guangdong).The analysis showed that the C.oleifera germplasm resources collected in the 18 cities and counties in the three provinces had an annual average temperature of 21.2 to 24.3℃,an annual average precipitation of 1,304.2 to 2,684.0 mm,and an altitude of 0.56 to 1,090.00 m.A total of 33 species of companion plants for C.oleifera were found,among which 29 species were plants of angiosperms.The fruit were mainly multicolored,and mostly spheroid or citrus-like in shape,and the leaf shape index was significantly different.The variation coefficients of 11 economic traits ranged from 11.03%to 145.10%,among which the variation coefficient of the leaf shape index was relatively stable.Fruit peel thickness was the most important economic trait,and was significantly positively correlated with fruit diameter,fruit height,fresh fruit weight,fresh seed weight,fresh seed yield,number of seeds,and thousand kernel weight.There was a significant correlation between fruit peel thickness and leaf shape index.