[Objective] This study was to explore the growth characteristics and fruit quality of a new bud mutant line, ＇Chuanzao Loquat＇. [Method] Paraffin section technique combined with field investigation method were adopted to conduct com- parative analysis of shoot histomorphology and phenological phases between two Io- quat varieties, ＇Chuanzao Loquat＇ and ＇Zaozhong 6＇. [Result] ＇Chuanzao Loquat＇ branched out and unfolded leaves about half to a month earlier than ＇Zaozhong 6＇; both the flowering and fruiting phases of ＇Chuanzao Loquat＇ were three months earlier than a precocious variety, ＇Zaozhong 6＇; the proportions of epidermis, cortex parenchyma, vascular tissue and medulla were 3.7%, 14.5%, 15.9% and 65.9%, re- spectively, in spdng shoots of ＇Chuanzao Loquat＇, and 3.1%, 42.5%, 6.9% and 47.5%, respectively, in ＇Zaozhong 6＇. [Conclusion] In terms of phenological phases, ＇Chuanzao Loqua＇ is earlier than ＇Zaozhong 6＇, a currently widely planted precocious variety, and thus is an important germplasm resource of Ioquats.
