Abstract: Atomic absorption spectrophotometry, sulfuric acid and potassium dichromate oxidation method and ultraviolet spectrophotometry were used to determine mineral elements, fiber, content of chlorogenic acid and flavonoids in leaves of 24 Helianthus tuberosus resources, and characteristics of leaves which introduced from abroad were evaluated. The results showed that the highest leaf moisture content in 22 species was F12 (27.58%), and the lowest was F16 (19.02%). The mean moisture content in leaves were little difference between the species from Denmark and France, but they were both lower than Qingyu No. 3 and Qingyu No.4. There were 3 subrotund, 1 long ovoid, 18 ovoid in the shape of the leaves. The highest K content in the leaves was F19 (30.62 mg·g^-1), which was 1.5 times higher than Qingyu No.3. The highest Mg content was D8 (14.17 mg·g^-1). Fe content in the all 24 resources had little difference, ranging from 0.09 mg·g^-1 to 0.19 mg·g^-1. The highest Ca content in the leaves was D8 (26.87 mg·g^-1). The highest levels of chlorogenic acid and flavonoids in the leaves were F7, was 2.55% and 1.24g·100g^-1, respectively. The highest fiber content was F9 (16.7%), and the lowest was F19 (7.36%). Through the analysis of the main component and the clustering analysis, when the genetic distance was 0.65, these 24 resources could be divided into three major categories. Leaves shapes in group 1 were ovoid or subrotund, in group 2 were long ovoid, and in group 3 were ovoid. There were differences among the various leaf indexes of different Helianthus tuberosus resources. Finally, F19, D8, F9, F7, D14 and D11 resources were screened out for further study based on their leaf indexes.

Key words: Helianthus tuberosus Linn., germplasm resources, leaf trait, mineral element, cellulose, clustering analysis