Vegetos

Abstract

Six phenological stages, flowering, first foliation, second foliation, maturity, leaf coloration and defoliation of Populus euphratica Oliv. in the lower reaches of Tarim River were studied. Among of those, the duration of the flowering stage was the shortest one, 21 days, whereas the duration of the maturity stage was the longest one, 141 days. Because of Apocheima cinerarius erschoff attacking, foliation stage divided into two stages, the duration of first foliation and second foliation were 27 and 22 days respectively. Coloration and defoliation stages were overlapping, the duration of both of them were 32 days. The correlation between the diameter of P. euphratica and the beginning of flowering, first foliation, second foliation and maturity stages, the end of first and second foliation were significant. The correlation between the diameter of P. euphratica and the duration of flowering, first foliation and defoliation were significant. Due to the low viability of P. euphratica seed, If the maturity stage of P. euphratica coincident with ecological water transportation, it is important for seed dispersal and germination, promote the regeneration of native P.euphratica forest and restoration of ecosystem in the lower reaches of the Tarim river.