[Objective]The aim was to study photosynthetic characteristic variation of different provenances of Liriodendron chinense Sarg. at seedling stage and provide the theoretical basis for work of provenance selection,parent selection of hybridizing breeding,genetic resource conservation of L.chinense Sarg.. [Method]With 13 provenances 1-year-old L.chinense Sarg. seedlings as tested materials,the photosynthetic characteristic variation of different provenances were studied. [Result]The L.chinense Sarg. seedlings of different provenances had the significant difference on net photosynthetic rate （Pn）,stomata conductivity （Gs） and water use efficiency （WUE）. The Pn of the highest provenance was 2.36 times the lowest. Majority seed sources light saturation point （LSP） were in 800-1 200 μmol photons/（m2·s）. Gs,transpiration rate （Tr） and Pn were significantly positively correlated,and the three had a significant positive correlation with the light compensation point （LCP）. Pn,LSP and WUE were negatively correlated. [Conclusion]The photosynthetic characteristics of L.chinense Sarg. had significant variation among provenances. Maybe Gs is the important factor leading to difference in Pn of L.chinense Sarg. seedlings. L.chinense Sarg. seedlings still need higher light intensity and more water.
