Abstract:

This study examined the responses of the growth, morphological characteristics, biomass and the biomass allocation of Euptelea pleiospermum seedlings to three natural light regimes (open, gap and understory). The main results are as follows: 1) The growth of Euptelea pleiospermum seedlings was inhibited when the light was insufficient; 2) Euptelea pleiospermum seedlings grew in the gap had more vertical growth trend for more light resources and they increased the number of leaves and the area of them to enhance the use of light;3) Euptelea pleiospermum seedlings reduced the damage of glare on the seedling by increasing the root mass ratio and lowering specific leaf area; when the light was weak, more biomass was invested in shoot, mainly for high growth and leaf growth, to increase the absorption of light. The growing environment of Euptelea pleiospermum is weak in light, but the seedlings need more light, which would cause Euptelea pleiospermum seedlings suppressed by the light in population regeneration, coupled with human damage on the grown plants and their environment, this may be one reason of the decrease in the number of Euptelea pleiospermum.