Open Life Sci. 2017; 12: 76–81 Research Article Open Access Shuling He, Lingfa Ma, Kentian Zhao*, Jingjun Yang, Yuwei Chang Survey analysis of soil physicochemical factors that influence the distribution of Cordyceps in the Xiahe Region of Gansu Province DOI 10.1515/biol-2017-0008 Received February 16, 2016; accepted September 13, 2016 1 Introduction Abstract: In this paper, we studied the influence of soil Cordyceps is a fungus form the Clavicipitaceae family. It physicochemical factors on the distribution of Cordyceps. comprises a stroma and sclerotia component resulting We found that in the soil layers at different depths, the from the endoparasitic infection of swift moth larvae [1]. differences in pH values, total N (TN), total P (TP), available Dried fungi-larva sporocarp is highly valued in traditional P (AP) and available K (AK) were not significant, but the Chinese medicine. Sources report that its ingestion has differences in soil water content (WC), soil organic matter positive influence on human immune system. Cordyceps (OM), hydrolysable nitrogen (HN) and AK were significant. is primarily used for treating chronic cough, post-illness In the 5-10 cm layer, WC, pH and TP were significant factors weakness, insomnia, emaciation, impotence, among that influence the distribution of Cordyceps - the number of other conditions [2-4]. The fungi life cycle is extremely Cordyceps was the largest and the characterization of the sophisticated. It undergoes a relatively independent Cordyceps was also the best. TP was an important factor for conidia stage as well as anascospore stage. This combined the first principle component of the soil physicochemical with host swift moth 5-6-year life cycle, 85% of which is properties that influenced the population distribution of underground, result in its extremely peculiar habitat Cordyceps. pH value was an important factor for the the requirements [5]. Increased market demand for Cordyceps second principal component of the soil physicochemical makes its wild environment severely endangered [6]. properties that influenced population distribution, and WC Accordingly, recent research has focused on protecting was an important factor for the third principal component, the wild environment of this fungus. the soil physicochemical properties. This demonstrates that Cordyceps has very strict requirements for ideal the requirement of Cordyceps for specific ranges of WC, soil environmental conditions. It grows primarily on and acidity-alkalinity and AP in soil layers is very high. around the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, including Tibet, Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu, Yunnan and other provinces. Keywords: Cordyceps, soil environment, soil layer, Normally it can be found on the alpine shrub meadows physicochemical factor, habitat and alpine meadows at 3600-4500 m a.s.l. The suitable soil for its development is the fertile and loose alpine meadow soil with thick soil layer and moderate moisture. The occurrence of Cordyceps is characterized by a very clear zonal and vertical distribution pattern, which is consistent with its host distribution [7-10], which relies *Corresponding author: Kentian Zhao, College of Agricultural and heavily on soil habitat. Rcent research has primarily Animal Husbandry, Tibet University, Linzhi 860000, China, E-mail: focused on associated plants, altitude limits, eating [email protected] patterns of swift moth larva and the relationship between Shuling He, Yuwei Chang, College of Agricultural and Animal Hus- soil microorganisms and the formation of Cordyceps [8-15]. bandry, Tibet University, Linzhi 860000, China Shuling He, Lingfa Ma, Jingjun Yang, Institute of High and Cold So far, there are no reports on the soil microenvironment of Ecology, Gansu Normal University for Nationalities, Hezuo 747000, Cordyceps within its distribution area in the Xiahe Region China of Gansu Province. This paper presents new information Lingfa Ma, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering about the relationship between Cordyceps population Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, distribution and soil nutrients in this area. We hope the China © 2017 Shuling He et al., published by De Gruyter Open. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 License. Survey analysis of soil physicochemical factors that influence the distribution 77 results will encouragethe environmentally-sensitive use sealed using the diagonal method. After being recorded of of Cordyceps’ natural habitat and the sustainable use ofits the type, they were carried to the laboratory in freshness semi-artificial cultivation. protection packages for physicochemical property detection. We also recoded surrounding environment information, including soil type, altitude, slope gradient, 2 Materials and methods grassland type and major vegetation. 2.1 Research area 2.3 Calculation of the amount of Cordyceps The research region included seven townships in Xiahe County of Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture: We investigated and analyzed every quadrat, including Ganjia Township, Damei Township, Zhayou Township, the Cordyceps number, vegetation component, plant Tanggaang Township, Bola Township, Sangke Township, coverage, density and height, distribution status, growth and Kecai Township. Xiahe County is located in the west status, soil type, and soil physicochemical properties. We edge of the southern part of Gansu Province. The county selected 1 small quadrat from each major plot and dug the is surrounded by Zhuoni County in the east, Luqu County small quadrat to the depth of 50 cm. Then we inspected the in the south, Linxia Prefecture in the north and Qinghai number of host insects, weighed their biomass, measured Province in the west. The altitude of this region is between the body length of the insect and the length of stroma and 3000 m and 3800 m. The climate there is cold and humid calculated its resource mass. For some major plots, due with clear high plateau climate characteristics. The average the severe damages caused medicine farmers digging, the temperature is 2.6°C, average rainfall is 516 mm, average number of Cordyceps could not be accurately calculated. frost-free period lasts 56 days and annual sunshine time In such cases, we could only estimate it using the number is 2,296 h. The primary vegetation in the region includes of holes left after digging. Gentianaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Compositae, Rosaceae, Polygonaceae, and Gramineae, with a coverage rate of 78.5%. The soil thickness is between 32 and 42 cm and the 2.4 Analysis of the soil physiochemical soil types are primarily alpine meadow soil and dark felty properties soil. (1) The soil organic matter (OM) was tested using the electric sand bath and potassium dichromate titrimetric 2.2 Sample plot selection and soil sample method. (2) The total nitrogen (TN) was tested using collection the Semimicro Macro Kjeldahl method. (3) The total phosphorus in soil (TP) was tested using the NaOH Under the guidance of local medicine farmers, forestry melting method —Mo-Sb anticolorimetric method. (4) The bureaus, Tibetan hospitals and Cordyceps markets, we total potassium (TK) was tested using the NaOH melting chose sampling sites and established plots and visited method- flame photometer method. (5) The hydrolysable them from early May to late June for four consecutive years nitrogen (HN) was tested using the alkaline hydrolysis 2013-2016. Plots were established in regions that reflected diffusion method. (6) The rapidly-available phosphorus Cordyceps distribution characteristics and random (AP) was tested using the sodium bicarbonate method. (7) sampling method was applied. Every year, we selected The rapidly-available potassium (AT) was tested using the 10 new typical 10 m × 10 m plots (major plots). In each ammonium acetate—flame photometer method (1 mol/L major plot, we selected 5 small 1 m × 1 m quadrats through neutral NH4OAc extraction). (8) The water content (WC) the five-point method. 50 small sampling quadrats were was tested using the oven drying method. (9) The soil pH created in this way. A deep hole (30-40 cm) was dug in value was measured using the potentiometry method. teach quadrat. Soil samples at the layers of 0-5, 5-10, 10-15 and 15-20 cm were collected and 3 random samplings were conducted. The soil type was recorded. In the same 2.5 Data analysis sample site, soil samples in 5 quadrates at the layers of 0-5, 5-10, 10-15 and 15-20 cm were mixed, which was then We used DPS 7.5 to analyze, process and conduct principle used as the soil sample of corresponding quadrates. 20 soil component analysis of the data. After we obtained the samples were collected in this way. The samples were then principle component, we conducted a hierarchical cluster 78 S. He, et al. analysis on it to confirm the principle component of the in soil layer 20-25 cm was significantly 85.67% less than soil nutrient selection of the Cordyceps. We then analyzed that in the soil layer 5-10 cm. This indicates that Cordyceps the influence of water content, pH value, organic matter, primarily lives in soil layer 5-10 cm in the Xiahe Region in total nitrogen, hydrolysable nitrogen, total phosphorus, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and that the soil AP and AT on the population distribution of Cordyceps. layer over 20 cm is not suitable for Cordyceps to grow, as suggest the sources [10-13]. 3 Results 3.2 Environmental characteristics of 3.1 Influence of soil depth on the Cordyceps main distribution areas characteristics and number of Cordyceps Table 2 suggests that in Zhayou Township,Tanggaang We found that the numbers of larva differed greatly in Township, Bola Township, Sangke Township and Kecai different soil depths. From Table 1, we can see that as Township and Nawu Township which are located at the soil depth increased, the number of Cordyceps first an upper slope, over 3000 m in altitude and having an increased and then decreased and so did the diameter annual precipitation of 340 mm, the number of Cordyceps and size of Cordyceps.