To investigate the effects of under-forest and barren slope cultivation on the quality of Gastrodia elata Bl. f. glauca S. Chow, this study employed a combination of advanced analytical methods, including ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), principal component analysis, orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis, and KEGG enrichment analysis. These methods were employed to analyze the chemical components of Gastrodia elata Bl. f. glauca S. Chow grown under the two different cultivation models. A total of 529 compounds were identified, with 208 showing significant differences between the two models, leading to a clear separation of samples from each cultivation method. Compared to the barren-slope cultivation group the under-forest cultivation group of Gastrodia elata Bl. f. glauca S. Chow showed higher levels of 123 compounds, which were primarily amino acids and their derivatives. Conversely, 110 compounds were present at lower levels in the under-forest cultivation group, mainly lipids. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that the glucosinolate biosynthesis pathway was significantly enriched in the under-forest cultivation model. These preliminary findings indicate that under-forest cultivation may result in a higher content of beneficial compounds in Gastrodia elata Bl. f. glauca S. Chow, providing valuable theoretical guidance for optimizing cultivation practices.

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