Abstract:In order to develop and utilize Amomum tsaoko rationally, we investigated its resources in 16 of the production areas in Yunnan and Guangxi in 2019. Based on the species distribution information, combined with the maximum entropy model and GIS, the most suitable production areas were identified, and 15 fruits and spike traits of 57 accessions were evaluated. The results of maximum entropy model showed that the geographical distribution range of A. tsaoko was within 99.1-112.8 °E, 20.5-30.4 °N, with 48.14×104 km2 of optimal areas, mainly distributed in Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan and western Guangxi. Among the climatic factors, precipitation in June, standard deviation of seasonal variation of temperature, seasonal variation coefficient of precipitation, annual mean temperature, solar radiation in October, and precipitation in the driest month have greater effects on the geographical distribution of the species. In the resource survey it was found that Yunnan was the main production area of A. tsaoko, including southeast, northwest and west of the province; the habitat difference among the production areas was large, resulting in a variety of A. tsaoko planting patterns:⑴ Alnus nepalensis forest+Amomum tsaoko; (2) Cunninghamia lanceolata forest+Amomum tsaoko; (3) Juglans regia forest,Camptotheca acuminata forest, or Toxicodendron vernicifluum forest+ Amomum tsaoko; (4) The mixed primeval forest + Amomum tsaoko. The phenotypic data analysis showed that the phenotypic variation patterns were rich, and the average variation coefficient of the 15 traits was 27.34%. Among all those traits, the variation coefficient of volatile oil yield was the largest (53.54%), and the variation coefficient of fruit width was the smallest (7.43%). The correlation analysis showed that there was a strong correlation between the fruit and spike characters. According to clustering analysis, the 57 resources were divided into seven groups, among which groups Ⅰ, Ⅲ and Ⅴ class contained those from various origin. The principal component analysis showed that the cumulative contribution rate of the first five principal components was 80.53%, which could explain most of the information of the characters. Based on the comprehensive characteristics, 18 outstanding accessions were selected, with from Gongshan County of Nujian Prefecture having the best fruit . The above research results provide a theoretical basis for revealing the geographical distribution characteristics of A. tsaoko, rational planning of planting areas and screening high-quality resources.