Abstract:Our objective is to determine solar utilization and dissipation characteristics in two introducing and widely planted poplar, P.balsanifera Linn (Da) and P.euramerieana cv(I-467) in the Ili Autonomous Prefecture characterized by poplar high-production and high solar radiation. We used a portable LCF (Li-6400, LI-COR, US) to explore the characteristics of two poplar seedlings utilization, dissipation of photochemical quenching and non-photochemical quenching. Strong solar radiation could cause the photoinhibition of photosynthesis, but this constitutes reversible destruction to PSⅡ reaction center in both plants. The study indicates there are the relatively lower net photosynthesis (Pn) and photochemical quenching (qP) in I-467 than in Da and the higher NPQ, so actual photochemistry efficiency ΦPSⅡwas higher in Da than in I-467. The NPQ is higher for I-467 compared to Da. Chlorophyll fluorescence Quenching analysis indicated that Da could use more solar energy utilized to qP than I-467, but I-467 could dissipate more excess excitation energy in PSⅡantennae through non-photochemistry progress than Da, as the fraction of energy utilized in photochemistry decreasing. Diurnal variations of Fv′/Fm′ and ΦPSⅡwere similar in the two plants, as NPQ was the main component in non-photochemical quenching, and both were higher in I-467 than Da (p<0.05). The fraction of light energy absorbed in PSⅡ antennae was lower in I-467 than in Da (p<0.01), but the fraction that was dissipated thermally (D) was significantly higher in I-467 than in Da (p<0.01) under the low radiation. The excess excitation after midday (Excess) was declined in the two plant seedlings. Da is more adaptive than I-467 to plant in Ili Autonomous Prefecture for solar energy utilization.