OBJECTIVETo investigate the contents of 16 basic amino acid and find out the variation of them in Dendrobium officinale with different germplasms and physiological ages, and then provide scientific basis for the quality evaluation and the breeding of D. officinale.

METHODThirty-three samples with 1-3 ages were collected from cultivated fields of Zhejiang. The samples were acid hydrolyzed, and then 16 basic amino acid contents of samples were determined by amino acid analyzer.

RESULTThe average contents of 7 necessary amino acid were in 0.28 - 2.96 mg x g(-1), the average contents of other 9 basic amino acid were in 0.53 - 4.20 mg x g(-1). The contents of many amino acids were impacted by germplasms significantly, and contents of several amino acids were impacted by physiological ages significantly.

CONCLUSIONThere were rich basic amino acids in D. officinale. The breeding of D. officinale can increase the contents of essential amino acids and other basic amino acids. The relations among physiological age and amino acid contents were as follows: three years > two years > one year. The contents of Asp and Tyr have significantly negative correlation with magnesium, the content of Pro has significantly positive correlation with copper.