Ecophysiological responses of Buxus ichangensis to summer waterlogging
宜昌黄杨对夏季淹水的生理生态学响应

As a widely distributed shrub species on the hydro-fluctuation belt in the Three Gorges Area,Buxus ichangensis is of vital importance for conservation of soil and water,and recovery of vegetation in this area. To determine its tolerance to flooding,we performed simulated waterlogging on this plant and then examined its responses in photosynthesis,roots activity and pigment contents. Our experiment showed,all the B. ichangensis plants could survive after 60-day inundation treatment,partly because of morphological adaptation triggered by the waterlogging,such as development of lenticels and adventitious roots. However,the variables of net photosynthesis rate,stomatal conductance and root activity reduced to 19.24%,24.04% and 4.78% of the control,respectively,and the decreasing amplitude varied in different flood periods,sig-nificantly decreasing primarily and resumed a little at the end of experiment. Chlorophyll A content signifi-cantly decreased along with waterlogging time,whereas chlorophyll B and carotenoid contents presented in-distinctive changes after different waterlogged durations. Based on these,we concluded that B. ichangensis had strong tolerance to summer flooding. We provided some suggestions on how to utilize the species in the restoration of degraded riparian vegetation in reservoir area of hydroelectric project.