Adaptability of Wild-Growing Tulips of Greece: Uncovering Relationships between Soil Properties, Rhizosphere Fungal Morphotypes and Nutrient Content Profiles

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Greek wild-growing tulips are protected plants, about which there is scarce knowledge regarding their natural nutrient status and rhizosphere fungal morphotypes. In this study, we collected plant (above-ground and bulb material) and soil samples from 13 tulip species across three phytogeographical units in Greece, and we assessed the tulips’ nutrient content and soil properties to determine their interrelationships. We found that soil variables significantly influenced tulip nutrient content, with up to 67% of the detected variability explained by soil properties. Correlation patterns were also found between tulips’ essential nutrients. Our study revealed clear distinctions in nutrient content among tulip species from different spatial (phytogeographic) units. The findings shed light on Greek tulips’ adaptability and resilience in their natural habitats and may facilitate their domestication in artificial settings. ABSTRACT: Wild-growing Greek tulips are protected plants but almost nothing is known about their natural nutrient status and rhizosphere fungal morphotypes in the wild, thus no insight is currently available into their growth and adaptation to their natural environment or artificial settings. To this end, several botanical expeditions were conducted with a special collection permit, and 34 tulip and soil samples were collected, representing 13 species from two phytogeographical regions of Greece (North Aegean Islands, Crete Island) and seven regions of mainland Greece. The tulips’ content in essential macro- and micro-nutrients, respective physicochemical soil properties, and rhizosphere fungal morphotypes were assessed across samples, and all parameters were subjected to appropriate statistical analysis to determine their interrelationships. The results showed that soil variables played a significant role in shaping tulips’ nutrient content, explaining up to 67% of the detected variability as in the case of phosphorus (P) in the above-ground plant tissue. In addition, significant correlations were observed (with an r value of up to 0.65, p < 0.001) between essential nutrients in the tulips, such as calcium (Ca) and boron (B). The principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that between the three spatial units examined, the total variability of tulips’ nutrient content produced a clear distinction among sampled species, while the first two PCA axes managed to explain 44.3% of it. This was further confirmed by the analysis of variance (ANOVA) results which showed corresponding significant differences (at p < 0.05) in both the tulips’ nutrient content and the studied soil properties as well (mean values of N, P, and K in the North Aegean Islands tulips’ nutrient content, up to 53%, 119%, and 54% higher compared to those of the Crete Island, respectively). Our study sheds light on Greek tulips’ adaptability and resilience in their original habitats, facilitating at the same time the undertaken efforts regarding their conservation and potential domestication in artificial settings.