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A review and case study of Rhododendron moulmainense highlights the feasibility and adaptation of evergreen Rhododendron plants to current environmental challenges

Summary

Rhododendron moulmainense is a beautiful alpine flowering plant that has great potential for urban gardens and environmental restoration. While these plants typically struggle when moved from high mountains to lower altitudes due to heat and drought, researchers have discovered that special soil fungi living on their roots can help them survive better in these new environments. By understanding how these plants grow and propagate, scientists can help more people enjoy these colorful flowers while also using them to restore damaged ecosystems.

Background

Alpine rhododendrons have high ecological, ornamental, and recreational value but face challenges with long growth cycles and poor adaptation to low-altitude environments, resulting in leaf burning and weak plant growth. Rhododendron moulmainense, an alpine evergreen azalea from the southernmost latitude, serves as a representative species for understanding how alpine rhododendrons can be domesticated for urban use. The species exhibits complex physiological, ecological, and mycorrhizal relationships that require comprehensive understanding.

Objective

This review comprehensively synthesizes research advances on Rhododendron moulmainense across multiple domains including phylogenetic analysis, mycorrhizal symbiosis, photosynthetic physiology, flower bud differentiation, stress resistance, and propagation techniques. The goal is to provide scientific insights into the domestication and adaptation of alpine rhododendrons to low-altitude urban environments while addressing environmental challenges related to climate change.

Results

Research identified 40 fungal species from three subkingdoms (Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Zygomycota) associated with R. moulmainense roots, with specific fungi like Phialocephala fortinii and Aspergillus sydowii enhancing growth and stress tolerance. The species demonstrated superior photosynthetic efficiency under semi-shaded conditions, superior heat resistance compared to other rhododendron species, and successful propagation through multiple methods including tissue culture with over 90% post-transplant survival rates.

Conclusion

R. moulmainense is a feasible candidate for urban landscaping and ecological restoration due to its adaptive capacity to various environmental conditions and well-documented propagation techniques. The species’ symbiotic relationships with ericoid mycorrhizal fungi and physiological mechanisms for stress tolerance provide a foundation for advancing alpine rhododendron domestication. Future research should integrate multi-omics approaches and molecular breeding to further enhance stress resilience and ornamental performance.
  • Published in:Frontiers in Plant Science,
  • Study Type:Review and Case Study,
  • Source: PMID: 40978801
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