Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Citrus reticulata</italic> <italic>'Tangerina'</italic> , a characteristic citrus cultivar native to Fujian Province, is widely cultivated locally. Its dried ripe fruit pericarp constitutes <italic>Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium</italic> (Chenpi) derived from <italic>C. reticulata</italic> <italic>'Tangerina'</italic> , a traditional Chinese medicinal and edible homologous material with both medicinal and edible values.Modern studies on the formation mechanism of the genuineness of Chenpi and on <italic>C. reticulata</italic> <italic>'Tangerina'</italic> remain scarce. This study focuses on the key factors underlying the genuineness of <italic>C. reticulata</italic> <italic>'Tangerina'</italic> . By investigating the effects of climate, rhizosphere soil elements, and rhizosphere microorganisms on the quality of this <italic>C. reticulata</italic> <italic>'Tangerina'</italic> , we aim to elucidate the basis of its genuineness, thereby providing a scientific theoretical foundation for the screening of high-quality producing areas of <italic>C. reticulata 'Tangerina'</italic> , the high-quality cultivation of citrus, and the evaluation of Chenpi genuineness.Correlation analysis revealed that rhizosphere soil elements total phosphorus（TP）, organic matter(OM), available phosphorus(AP), available manganese(AMn), available boro(AB), total potassium(TK), pH, rapidly available potassium(AK), and exchangeable magnesium(EMg), rhizosphere microorganisms at the genus level <italic>Dongia,</italic> <italic>Pseudolabrys</italic> , <italic>Bacillus</italic> , <italic>Sphingomonas,</italic> <italic>Hawksworthiomyces</italic> , <italic>unidentified_Cyanobacteria</italic> , <italic>Mycena</italic> , <italic>Jatrophihabitans</italic> , <italic>Fusarium</italic> , <italic>Mycobacterium</italic> , and <italic>Occallatibacter</italic> , and environmental factors Mean temperature of coldest quarter (bio11), Annual precipitation (bio12), Precipitation of warmest quarter (bio18), Precipitation seasonality (bio15), Mean diurnal range (bio2), Isothermality (bio3), and Temperature annual range (bio7) were all key factors driving the accumulation of secondary metabolites in <italic>Citrus reticulata 'Tangerina'</italic> .This study demonstrates that differences in ecological factors across distinct producing regions drive the differentiation of secondary metabolite accumulation patterns in <italic>Citrus reticulata 'Tangerina'</italic> , which serves as the underlying cause for the formation of Chenpi genuineness. Furthermore, this study provides a crucial basis for the scientific cultivation and rational fertilization of citrus, while also enriching research on Chenpi genuineness and the theory of ecological adaptability of genuine medicinal materials. </p>