Selecting superior variety of Atractylodes lancea through photosynthetic characters and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters

Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC., which had been highly appreciated in medical literature of past dynasties, is a kind of authentic herb, and has a long history of medicinal in China. The selection of superior variety is an important measure to cultivate the Atractylodes lancea Wild Atractylodes lancea grown in Maoshan mountainous area, Jiangsu province, China, was divided into four types according to leaf shapes: incised leaf-type, ovate leaf-type, long lanceolate leaf-type, and short lanceolate leaf-type. The photosynthetic activity and chlorophyll fluorescence parameter of four types of Atractylodes lancea were measured. There were significant differences in photosynthetic activity among the four types of Atractylodes lancea. The net photosynthetic rate of incised leaf-type was much higher than that of other types. Substantial differences in the overall performance of the photosynthetic apparatus also existed among the four types of Atractylodes lancea. The capacity to regenerate the photosynthetic apparatus, photochemical quenching capacity and PS II electron transport activity of the incised leaf-type Atractylodes lancea were greater than those of other types, and the capture efficiency of light energy of the short lanceolate leaf-type was the lowest among the four types of Atractylodes lancea. This suggests that the growth rate of the incised leaf-type Atractylodes lancea was greater than that of other types in growing environment. It was consistent with the measurers to the growth of stem and leaves in the field [1]. The incised leaf-type Atractylodes lancea can be selected as the superior variety.

Acknowledgement: The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the High-tech Agriculture Research Program of Jiangsu Province, China (No. BG2006322).

References: Sang X (2008)J Anhui Agri Sci 36: 7726–7727.