TY  - EJOU
AU  - Nisa, Mir Muskan Un 
AU  - Peerzada, Ishtiyak Ahmad 
AU  - Mir, Rashid 
AU  - Bhat, Talib Bashir 
AU  - Algehainy, Naseh A. 
AU  - Jalal, Mohammed M. 
AU  - Altayar, Malik A. 
AU  - Tayeb, Faris J. 
AU  - Bedaiwi, Ruqaiah I. 
AU  - Albalawi, Ibrahim Altedlawi 

TI  - Eco-Metabolomic Assessment of <i>Aconitum heterophyllum</i> in the Kashmir Himalaya; Integrating Morphological, Edaphic, Phytochemical, Antioxidant and Climatic Factors
T2  - Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany

PY  - 
VL  - 
IS  - 
SN  - 1851-5657

AB  - The present study elucidated the integrated relationships among plant morphology, phytochemical composition, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity, soil properties, and climatic drivers of <i>Aconitum heterophyllum</i> Wall. ex Royle, a critically endangered medicinal plant endemic to the Kashmir Himalaya, India. Significant site-specific variations were observed in the aboveground morphological traits, with the Langate Forest Division (LFD) populations exhibiting superior vegetative growth and vigor. Soil parameters, particularly soil organic carbon and soil potassium, were strongly associated with improved plant morphology and antioxidant activity. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) profiling of volatile and semi-volatile metabolites identified LFD as the most chemically diverse ecotype, whereas the Jhelum Valley Forest Division (JVFD) revealed a stress-responsive metabolite signature, and Kamraj Forest Division (KFD) showed constrained metabolic expression under comparatively less favourable conditions. Multivariate analyses suggested a synergistic influence of soil nutrients and climatic factors on plant performance and metabolic outcomes. Overall, the superior ecological performance and higher DPPH radical-scavenging activity of the LFD populations highlight their suitability for germplasm collection, sustainable utilization, and conservation. These findings provide a robust scientific basis for site-specific conservation planning, habitat management, and the development of climate-resilient cultivation strategies for this critically endangered medicinal plant.
KW  - Soil-fertility; eco-metabolomic; phytochemical; GC-MS profiling; conservation

DO  - 10.32604/phyton.2026.086958