Objective To approach the effect of altitude on the quality of bamboo shoots and provide reference for the cultivation of high-quality bamboo shoots.

Method The appearance quality, nutrient quality and eating quality of bamboo shoots from three altitudinal gradients (110, 370, 560 m) were investigated.

Result The shoot diameter, length, individual weight, edible parts ratios, soluble sugar, vitamin C, cystine, tyrosine and proportion of essential amino acids, tannin, oxalic acid of bamboo shoots were markedly influenced by altitudinal gradient (P < 0.05). The protein, fat, starch, total flavone, other free amino acids, essential amino acids, total amino acid, cellulose, lignose, the content of bitter, delicious, sweet amino acids and proportion of sweet, delicious amino acids showed no significant difference among different altitudes (P>0.05), but the content of aromatic amino acid, proportion of aromatic amino acids and bitter amino acids were also significantly affected by altitudinal gradients (P < 0.05).

Conclusion It is suggested that the appearance quality of bamboo shoots was markedly influenced by altitudinal gradients, the appearance quality of shoots at middle and high altitude is superior to that of low altitude. The nutrition quality and eating quality of bamboo shoots are relatively obvious influenced by altitudinal gradients, but the influence of altitude on appearance quality was more significant.