Taking E’yan 1 as the material and selecting three altitudes which were the altitude of 1 560 m,1 200 m and 800 m,respectively,we investigated the difference of the contents of plastid pigment and related genes expression of burley tobacco in Enshi at the fast grow stage and the mature stage.The results showed that the contents of chlorophyll a,chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll in burley tobacco leaves at medium altitude were the highest,and the content of total carotenoids at the fast grow stage among different altitude had the same trend.The difference between medium altitude and other altitudes was significant or very significant.The leaves of burley tobacco in high altitude had the higher content of total carotenoids at the mature stage and the content of total carotenoids increased fast compared to fast grow stage.In medium altitude planting area,the expression of chlorophyll synthesis genes at two growth stages and carotenoid synthesis genes at fast grow stage were efficient,while the efficient expression of the genes related carotenoid synthesis at mature stage appeared in high altitude planting area.Medium altitude was more suitable for planting E’ yan 1.