Evaluation and Screening of Superior Germplasms in Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis

The contents of saponins I, II, VI and VII of 8 wild Paris polyphylla in Yunnan province were determined by HPLC, and the rhizome biomass and annual growth rate were analyzed. The findings indicated that there were significant differences in the content of saponins among these provenances. The variation range of total saponins content was 2.145–15.749 mg/g. The saponins content of 8 provenances from high to low were Pu'er Jingdong, Yuxi Chengjiang, Wenshan Qiubei, Chuxiong Dayao, Qujing Malong, Zhaotong Zhenxiong, Dali Jianchuan and Lijiang Yongsheng. Diosgenin and pinoside were the main components of saponins in these provenances. The content of total saponin was highly positive correlated with longitude and a significant negative correlation with latitude. Saponin I was significant positive correlation with longitude and annual average temperature. The correlation coefficients between total saponins and altitude, annual average temperature and annual precipitation were −0.371, 0.668 and 0.672 respectively. There was a high positive correlation between total saponins and saponin I. The rhizome growth rate of these provenances from high to low were were Dali Jianchuan, Lijiang Yongsheng, Pu'er Jingdong, Yuxi Chengjiang, Chuxiong Dayao, Wenshan Qiubei, Qujing Malong and Zhaotong Zhenxiong. Cluster analysis showed that the 8 provenances could be divided into 3 groups: medium saponin and low growth rate group, high saponin and high production rate group, low saponin and high growth rate group. The provenances from Pu'er Jingdong and Yuxi Chengjiang were superior provenances with high saponins.