Abstract:Contents of soluble sugar, starch,free prolines and crude proteins were determined in functional leaves and flower buds of different diameters (<0.4 mm, 0.4-1.2 mm and >1.2 mm) in ramie (Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaud) male sterile lines C26 and C4 and the restoration lines B8 and B16, as well as peroxidase (POD) activity.The soluble sugar content of flower buds of each size was higher in C26 and C4 than in their restoration lines, especially in flower buds ( diameter >1.2 mm ) (C26 and C4 were 0.58% and 0.83% higher than B8 and B16, respectively). In flower buds ( diameter in 0.4-1.2 mm ) and big bud, starch and free proline contents of C26 and C4 were 1.31-1.81 and 2.72-7.37 times higher than B8 and B16, respectively. In flower buds of all sizes, POD activity was slightly lower in C26 and C4 than in their restoration lines. Variations in soluble sugar content of lines C26 and C4 were not consistent with their restoration lines. Those features could be related to male sterility in ramie.