Assessment Of Germplasm Resources And The Study On Pollination Biology Of Paeonia Lactiflora

Based on preliminary assessment of 12 germplasms collected from three main production areas and one introduction area, the main economic characters of each germplasm were compared. Quality comparison was conducted among those germplasm using paeoniflorin as quality evaluation index; The research conducted from May 2007 to October 2008 was a biological characteristics study on Paeonia lactiflora Pall, from Anhui and Institute of Medicinal Plant Development of Beijing. Results of this study were concluded as follows:1 Results of comparing underground characters between different germplasms:(1) The main economic characters of radix paeonia alba from Anhui including length of root, diameter of root and dry weight of root had significant variance. Correlation coefficient indicated that length of root and diameter of root, fresh weight and the number of root, dry weight and the number of root, fresh weight and dry weight had significant positive correlation; The main economic characters of radix paeonia alba from Beijing had significant variance except drying rates. Correlation coefficient indicated that length of root and diameter of root, fresh weight and dry weight had significant positive correlation; The main economic characters of radix paeonia alba from Shandong including the number of root, diameter of root, fresh weight of root and dry weight of root had significant variance. Correlation coefficient indicated that diameter of root and length of root, fresh weight length of root had significant negative correlation, fresh weight and the number of root, dry weight and the number of root, fresh weight and dry weight had significant positive correlation.(2) The drying rates did not show significant variance between different germplasms, while other characters showed significant variance. The single fresh weight changes along with dry weight but the drying rate varied, for example, the single fresh weight and dry weight of Zhongshengfen were small but its dry rate was fairly high.(3) Correlations between different characters in radix paeonia alba from different production areas and/or different germplasms. Results showed that length of root and diameter of root, fresh weight of root and dry weight of root have significant correlation.2 Results of quality assessment of different germplasms:Content of peoniflorin: Beijing No.2>Zhongshengfen>Beijing No.1>Radix paeonia alba from Hangzhou>Kunshanxiaguang>Beijing No.4>Gaoganhong>Bozhou No.1>Bozhou No.3>Dafugui>Bozhou No.2>Bijing No.3. The main source for difference was neither growth areas nor growth years, but germplasm. Measurement of peoniflorin in different parts of radix paeonia alba reveals that in terms of content of peoniflorin: rhizoma> fibrous root > axial root.3 Results of biological characteristics of P. lactiflora from Anhui and Beijing:(1) Repeating Opening and Shutting Mechanism was found in P. lactiflora, basically means: The corolla of P. lactiflora shuts after sunset or under cloudy weather to protect the stamen, while it opens under sunny weather, this Opening and Shutting phenomenon could be a protective mechanism for stamen and pistil, also it may prolong the pollination period and the viability of stigma.(2)Basically, P. lactiflora was able to set seeds. Pistil abortion was excluded because P. lactiflora from Anhui Province was able to fruit after being moved to Beijing. Significant difference exist in terms of seed setting rate in the two areas—P. lactiflora from Beijing could set seed while that from Anhui hardly does. Considering that P. lactiflora is a kind of cross-pollinating with weak self-crossing.No apomixes and cleistogamy was found. The seed setting rate may increase as conditions of pollination improve.4 Results of germination test of pollen tubes:It takes 12 hours(cross pollination between diffferent plants), 1 day (cross pollination between the same plant) or 3 days (self-plant pollination) for the pollen tube to enter into the ovary successfully, its growth rate varies and with no tendercy to self-pollination or cross-pollination.