Abstract:By using SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter, LI-6400 portable photosynthesis system, and spectrophotometer, the leaf SPAD value, net photosynthetic rate ( Pn), and chlorophyll (a+b) content (Ct) of 3-year-old Machilus pauhoi and M. leptophylla seedlings were measured, and the relationships of SPAD value with Pn and Ct were analyzed. The M. pauhoi seedlings were grown from the seeds originated from Suichuan County of Jiangxi Province and Ji an’ou County of Fujian Province, named as MPS and MPJ, respectively; while the M. leptophylla seedlings were grown from the seeds originated from Shangyou County of Jiangxi Province, named as MLG. There were significant differences in the mean chlorophyll content of MPS, MPJ, and MLG. The SPAD value and the conten ts of chlorophyll (a+b) (Ct), chlorophyll a (Ca) and chlorophyll b (Cb) we re in the order of MPS<MLG<MPJ, with the mean SPAD value being 4380, 4512, and 5067 and the Ct value being 1944, 2831, and 3447 mg·g-1 , respectively. The chlorophyll content was influenced by the maturing degree of meso phyll tissues of M. pauhoi and M. leptophylla, being lower in current-year le aves than in 2-year-old leaves. The Ct of same age leaves at different c rown layers of MPS and MPJ and of MLG was in the order of upper layer<middle la yer<lower layer and of upper layer<lower layer<middle layer, respectiv ely, and the SPAD value of the same lamina at different positions was in the ord er of apex<middle<base. SPAD value had a significant positive linear correla tion with Ct, and a statistically not significant positive correlation wit h Pn.