Abstract: ‘Elian 7’（also named‘Pearl Lotus Root’）is a new early-maturing lotus root cultivar selected from the self-pollinated progenies of‘Elian 5’by Wuhan Vegetable Research Institute. The enlarged internodes are in short-tubular shape，which have yellowish-white smooth skin and thick flesh. The top internode’s shape of the enlarged rhizome is obtuse. The single entire enlarged rhizome weighs 2.5 kg while its main enlarged rhizome has 5–7 internodes and weighs 1.6 kg averagely. The yield of green-leaf rhizome is about 15 000 kg • hm-2 in mid-July and that of matured rhizome is about 28 500 kg • hm-2 in early-September. The advantages of this cultivar are early maturing，high yield and good commercial qualities.

Key words: lotus root, early-maturing, cultivar