Investigation On Paeonia Section Moutan(Tree Peonies) In Shanxi Province

Investigations were carried out on wild tree peonies native to Shannxi Provice from April,2013to August,2013, studying on the distribution, biological characteristics and habitatcharacteristics. Afterwards, phenotypic variation analysis was conducted for6naturalPaeonia rockii populations and8natural Paeonia ostii populations, aiming at mastering thespecies, distribution, present situation, natural variation as well as value for utilization of wildtree peony resources in Shannxi Province. These findings offered basic theories for properexploitation and protection of the wild resources in this area.1Rich wild tree peony resources were distributed in Shannxi Province where5wildspecies (including one natural hybrid), such as Paeonia.rockii, Paeonia.jishanensis,Paeonia.ostii, Paeonia.qiuii and Paeonia.yananensis, were found, all of which belonged tosubsect. Vaginatae Stern. Shangnan, a place that had never been recorded to have wildPaeonia.qiui before, was first found as a natural distribution area for Paeonia.qiui. Besides,the largest mixture distribution of wild Paeonia.ostii and Paeonia.qiuii was found as well.2With regards to distribution, Paeonia.rockii ranged most widely over the largestnumber of regions, with relatively good adaptability. However, Paeonia.jishanensis andPaeonia.yananensis, which could possess poor adaptability, were spread over only one region,considered to have the least distribution. As for species number in different regions, Fengxian,Shangnan and Wanhuashan area in Yanan had a relatively large number of wild tree peonyspecies, while Lueyang, Xunyang and Shanyang County had less species. Wild tree peonieswere mainly distributed sporadically and flakily, differing from one place to another.Generally wild tree peonies could habitat in a range from606m to2370m. Specifically,Paeonia.rockii had a relatively wide range, reaching as high as1200m, whilePaeonia.jishanensis and Paeonia.yananensis had a smaller distribution range.3In terms of resource characteristics, wild tree peonies are mainly distributed in the bushover the downhill slope, in the forest, or along the stream, where it is also home for Pinus,Picea, Platycladus, Broussonetia, Macrocarpium, Castanea, Quercus, Elaeagnus and Rhus.In wild tree peony populations, the age structure can be divided into two groups: the top (5-8 years old) and the bottom (1-2years old seedlings around0.1m to2m high). Wild tree peoniesusually grow in the forest with low crown density, rarely in the high-density forest. If thesunlight is not sufficient, wild tree peonies will prefer to live outside forest margins or wherethe upper trees provide shallow shades. Even so, they grow poorly forming few branches,much weaker than those living under enough illumination. Besides, wild tree peonies usuallyinhabit where there is a certain degree slope or at least their roots are distributed higher thanthe surrounding terrain. They are rarely found in low-lying places. Natural peony communitycompositions differ from one altitude to another.4Phenotypic variation analysis and systematic observation was carried out for8qualitative traits and14quantitative traits of leaves and fruits from8Paeonia.ostiipopulations native to Qinling Mountains in Shannxi Province. The result indicated thevariation of plant type was shown within and among populations while the variation of branchpattern, new branch color, leaf shape and fruit color only existed only among populations, andtended to be consistent within populations. Significant difference in all the quantitative traitsexpect single fruit pod length, was within and among populations. The average variationcoefficients of different quantitative traits differed from each other, among which noticeabledifference was shown in traits such as fruit number, seed number in a single fruit pod andlength of a single fruit pod, while less variation was shown in width of a single fruit pod andseed diameter. Correlation analysis on the relationship between environmental factors and thechosen traits suggested that seed number in a single fruit pod of Paeonia.ostii wassignificantly and negatively correlated to latitude, and positively correlated to mean annualtemperature.5Phenotypic variation analysis and systematic observation was carried out for8qualitative traits and14quantitative traits of leaves and fruits from6Paeonia.rockiipopulations native to Qinling Mountains and Ziwuling area in Shannxi Province. The resultindicated the variation of plant type was shown within and among populations while thevariation of branch pattern, new branch color, leaf shape and fruit color only existed onlyamong populations, and tended to be consistent within populations. Significant difference inall the quantitative traits expect fruit transverse diameter, was within and among populations.The average variation coefficients of different quantitative traits differed from each other inthe6populations, among which noticeable difference was shown in traits such as seednumber in a single fruit pod, fruit number and width of a single fruit pod, while less variationwas shown in fruit pod number.