Ecosystem Health and Sustainability · Published 2026-01-01 · DOI 10.34133/ehs.0508
Subtropical karst regions exhibit pronounced soil calcium (Ca) heterogeneity, posing unique challenges to crop growth and agricultural sustainability. Understanding soil–plant Ca migration mechanisms and plant adaptive strategies is vital for developing sustainable nutrient management in these ecologically sensitive areas. This study investigated mango adaptability to contrasting Ca environments by comparing Ca content, chemical forms, and subcellular distribution in soils and mango tissues between karst and non-karst regions in Baise, Guangxi, China. Results revealed that karst soils contained higher total Ca and all fractions, yet exhibited a lower proportion of bioavailable Ca compared to non-karst soils. Despite this, mango Ca contents in roots, stems, leaves, fruits, and seeds were 1.52-, 1.97-, 1.56-, 2.01-, and 2.07-fold higher in karst areas, respectively, following a transpiration-driven distribution pattern (leaves > stems > roots > fruits > seeds). However, bioconcentration and translocation factors did not differ significantly between regions (P > 0.05), indicating that higher soil Ca does not proportionally enhance Ca enrichment or internal translocation efficiency. Chemical speciation analysis revealed distinct adaptive strategies: karst mangoes preferentially accumulated Ca as pectate in cell walls, enhancing structural integrity under high-Ca stress, whereas non-karst mangoes relied more on Ca oxalate storage and cytoplasmic Ca signaling to maintain homeostasis under Ca-limited conditions. Subcellular fractionation confirmed greater cell wall Ca allocation in karst mangoes versus cytoplasmic dominance in non-karst mangoes. These findings demonstrate how plants modify Ca chemical forms and subcellular partitioning to cope with contrasting Ca regimes, providing critical insights into adaptive mechanisms of perennial crops in karst ecosystems and informing sustainable agricultural practices in geologically complex regions.
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