Abstract:To investigate the quality differences among Lilium davidii var. willmottiae (E. H. Wilson) Raffill from different places of origin, the sensory scores of L. davidii var. willmottiae samples sourced from 13 different places were recorded, and the contents of soluble solids, moisture, sucrose, and other chemical components were determined. Subsequently, the sensory and chemical analysis results were statistically analyzed using Pearson correlation, principal component, and orthogonal-partial least squares discriminant analyses. The results show that the overall preference scores of the samples from Guanshan Township in Yongjing County and Xiguyuan Town in Qilihe District are the highest, at 4.25 and 3.93, respectively. The polysaccharide and total saponin contents in L. davidii var. willmottiae from Weiling Township in Qilihe District are higher, at 259.52 mg/g and 3.64 mg/g, respectively. The contents of soluble solids, sucrose, and starch in the samples from Chenjing Town (Nianjiwan Village) in Yongjing County are even higher, reaching up to 316.00, 654.63, and 425.37 mg/g, respectively. Sweetness, aroma, and crispness are positively correlated with the starch and sucrose contents, while bitterness and astringency are positively correlated with the total saponin content. The OPLS-DA results can distinguish L. davidii var. willmottiae samples of different origins. The cluster analysis results indicate that the quality of the samples from Agan Town of Qilihe District is considerably different from that of the samples sourced from other places. The comprehensive quality score of L. davidii var. willmottiae grown in Nanping Town in Lintao County is the highest (0.903). Sensory evaluation combined with chemical analysis is a new approach for evaluating the quality of L. davidii var. willmottiae, and these findings can serve as a reference for promoting cultivation and product development of L. davidii var. willmottiae.