Fruit Quality Differences and Comprehensive Evaluation of Camellia oleifera ‘Yuehua 1’ Clone in Different Cultivation Areas

This study aimed to evaluate the differences in fruit quality and comprehensive performance of the improved Camellia oleifera ‘Yuehua 1’ clone among different cultivation areas in Guangdong Province, providing a scientific basis for its promotion, application, and regionalized cultivation. Maba Town in Shaoguan City, Huangbei Town in Meizhou City, and Guanqiao Town in Maoming City were selected as experimental sites. Fruit phenotypic traits, economic traits, functional components, and fatty acid composition were determined, and comprehensive evaluation was conducted using the membership function method, deviation maximization method, and entropy weight method. The results showed that fruit quality of C. oleifera ‘Yuehua 1’ differed significantly among the three cultivation areas. Economic traits, including fruit size, fruit weight, seed rate, and oil content, showed better overall performance in Maba Town. Single fruit weight, dry seed weight, fresh seed rate, and fresh-fruit oil content were the highest in Maba Town, reaching 31.68 g, 9.40 g, 51.70%, and 9.19%, respectively. Huangbei Town had the lowest fresh-fruit oil content, but the highest total polyphenol and total flavonoid contents, at 44.21 mg/kg and 48.87 mg/kg, respectively. Meanwhile, its oleic acid and linolenic acid contents were relatively high, at 81.46% and 0.69%, respectively, while its saturated fatty acid content was the lowest, at 7.55%. Most economic traits in Guanqiao Town were at intermediate levels, with a fresh-fruit oil content of 6.04%; however, it had the lowest oleic acid content and the highest saturated fatty acid content, at 77.01% and 12.04%, respectively. The three comprehensive evaluation methods produced consistent rankings, with Maba Town ranking first, Huangbei Town second, and Guanqiao Town third. In summary, C. oleifera ‘Yuehua 1’ showed differences in fruit quality among the three cultivation areas in Guangdong Province. Maba Town showed better comprehensive economic traits and oil-producing performance, whereas Huangbei Town showed relatively better performance in functional components and some fatty acid composition indicators. These results provide a reference for the regionalized evaluation, promotion, application, and tea oil quality utilization of C. oleifera ‘Yuehua 1’ in Guangdong Province.