Abstract: 6 trace elements were tested for 30 individuals in 3 populations of Zanthoxylum planispinum var.dingtanensis from Guizhou Huajiang gorge area,the variation patterns of within and among populations was studied by using multicomparison,correlation analysis,cluster analysis and cluster analysis.The results showed that there were significantly differences among populations and among individuals within populations of Z.planispinum var.dingtanensis.The average variation in coefficient of variance(CV)among 6 trace 10.37%,CV of Ca(19.50%)and Cu(18.20%)were larger,They are unstable,CV of Fe(2.01%)was small and.Stable.Correlation analysis showed that between two trace elements had no significant correlation.The cluster analysis of 6 phenotypic characters of 30 individual plants showed that there was no spatial specificity for the variation of trace elements in Z.planispinum var.dingtanensis populations.The present study provided a scientific basis for the evaluation and use of germplasm resources,and genetic improvement of Z.planispinum var.dingtanensis.

Key words: Zanthoxylum planispinum var.dingtanensis, different superior individual, trace elements, variation