Abstract
For storage periods of tubers in Chinese yam, the levels of $\textrm{GA}_{44}$ and $\textrm{GA}_{20}$ was constant, meanwhile both $\textrm{GA}_{53}$ and $\textrm{GA}_{19}$ level were always higher than that of $\textrm{GA}_{44}$ and $\textrm{GA}_{20}$ㆍ $\textrm{GA}_9$ content as precursor of $\textrm{GA}_4$ was not changed during storage. $\textrm{GA}_{24}$ content was low to below 0.2 ng for 90 days after storage, $\textrm{GA}_{36}$ content as precursor of $\textrm{GA}_4$ like $\textrm{GA}_9$ was about 6-8 fold higher than that of $\textrm{GA}_9$ during storage. GA contents of the two gibberellin biosynthetic pathways were gradually increased when storage periods were progressed. Bioactive GA$_1$ content as the GA members of an early C-13 hydroxylation was always constant, and its content was very low as below 0.1ng per dry weight, meanwhile, bioactive $\textrm{GA}_4$ content as the GA members of non C-13 hydroxylation was drastically increased, also, its content was highest at 90 days after storage, and then decreased at 120 days after storage. Consequently, we suggest that $\textrm{GA}_4$ may be involved in controlling tuber sprouting in Chinese yam.