OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to compare the plant morphological characteristics and photosynthetic physiological characteristics of Paeonia Radix Rubra and Paeonia Radix Alba, and find evidence of whether there are intraspecific variations of Paeonia lactiflora.

METHODWith wild and cultivated P. lactiflora of the roots as asexual reproduction materials for cultivation experiment, morphological index, photosynthetic parameters and photosynthetic pigment content were measured.

RESULTIn the 9 of morphological characteristics between wild and cultivated P. lactiflora, the number of leaf, blade length, the width of leaf and the length of top leaf showed a significant difference. The variances within wild P. lactiflora group were big than those within cultivated P. lactiflora in 8 of morphological characteristics. In photosynthetic physiological characteristics, wild P. lactiflora were significantly higher than cultivated P. lactiflora in Max. net photosynthetic rate (P(max)), light compensation point (LCP), light saturation point(LSP), CO2 saturation point (CSP) and CO2 saturated P(n) (P(m)). And significantly lower than cultivated P. lactiflora in maximum net photosynthetic rate (P(max)), light compensation point (LCP), light in apparent quantum yield (AQY), CO2 compensation point (CCP), carboxylation efficiency (CE) and photosynthetic pigment content.

CONCLUSIONWild and cultivated P. lactiflora have significant difference in morphological characteristics of leaf and photosynthetic physiological characteristics.