Abstract:In order to study the distribution characteristics of SPAD value and its relationship with chlorophyll content in leaves of three Magnoliaceae species, Manglietia glauca, Michelia macclurei and Michelia chapensis, SPAD value and chlorophyll content in leaves were measured by using chlorophyll meter SPAD and spectrophotometry. The results showed that the significant differences of leaf SPAD values of the three plants were derived from tree species and leaf maturity, and the difference in leaf maturity was higher than that of tree species. The SPAD value of mature leaf was significant higher (P<0.01) than that of young leaf in three Magnoliaceae species, and the leaf SPAD value of M. chapensis was significant higher (P<0.05) than M. glance and M. macclurei. The SPAD value of the same leaf at different leaf positions was in the order of apex < middle < base. Significant differences(P<0.05) were found between apex and base except the young leaf of M. macclurei. The middle of leaf of three Magnoliaceae species was considered to be the optimal position for determining the SPAD value. Leaf SPAD value of three Magnoliaceae species had a highly significant (P<0.01) positive correlation with chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll content, which showed that it was feasible to forecast chlorophyll content rapidly and non-invasively by SPAD value and different models.