Abstract: Chinese artichoke(stachys sieboddii Miq.)is one of the native vegetables of China.In Beijing region,this vegetable is chronically infected by three dif-ferent viruses:Alfalfa DIosaic Virus(AVIV),Tobacco Mosaic Virus(TMV) a nd sn unidentified、i:-s which shcr s lcrg strir,-like pm 1ic1Es unc'er elec-tron microscope,These viruses are easily separated by ira vitro meristem-tip cul-ture,The regenerated virus-free plants can be rapidly propagated by micro-cu-tting,and theoretically the potential multiplication rate could reach more th-an 50 million each year.The virus-free mother plant can be successfully stored in culture room at 23±2 C for 8-9 months,In 1985, the yield of the virus-free clone reached 31,147.5kg/ha,,o.67times as many as the virus-infected clone。 The average weight of the tuber for the virus-free clone is 4.16 grams,2.2 times as heavy as the virus-infected clone, Results of nutrient analyses of tubers sh-ows that the total protein content is 21.62%for the virus-free clone,which is 39, 57 % more than the virus-infected clone, and the total amino-acids content of the virus-free clone is 31.51%higher than that of the virus-infected clone, A Final discussion is held on the application of such virus-free clones of Chi-nese artichoke produced by ia vitro meristem-tip culture.

Key words: Chinese artichoke(stachys sieboldi.i Miq.), Mcristeme-tip culture, V irus-free clone