Physiological response of Tamarix ramosissima under water stress along the lower reaches of Tarim River

Tamarix ramosissima is one of the con- structive species growing on both sides of Tarim River which is favorable to constituting a natural bar- rier containing local deserts and protecting the oasis. By analyzing characteristics of the main physiological indexes, such as chlorophyll, soluble sugar, proline (Pro), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismu- tase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), C3-gibberellins (GA3) and abscisic acid (ABA), at different sections with different water tables in the lower reaches of Tarim River, it has been found that these physiological indexes have close correlations with water tables. In addition, the rational ecological, coercing and critical water tables of T. ramosissima are 2-4 m, 6 m and 10 m, respectively, which pro- vides an important theoretical basis for the ecological conservation of extremely arid regions.