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Pak. J. Bot., 46(5): 1601-1609, 2014.

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PHENOLOGICAL BEHAVIOUR OF DESERT PLANTS IN RESPONSE TO TEMPERATURE CHANGE: A CASE STUDY FROM TURPAN EREMOPHYTES BOTANICAL GARDEN, NORTHWEST CHINA

SHI WEI^1,2*, ZHAO YANFEN^2,3, PAN BORONG^1,2, YIN LINKE^1,2 AND LIU RUIXIA^1,2

Abstract: The phenology of three genera of desert plants (viz., Calligonum L., Haloxylon L., and Tamarix L.) was investigated in response to temperature changes in Turpan. Eremophytes Botanical Garden The temperature was raised gradually from 1977 to 2006, while the phenophases of Calligonum L., Haloxylon L., and Tamarix L. genera were slowly and insignificantly changed in the study area. Their phenophase were similar and did not change significantly over the duration of the study except the beginning of flowering of the average of the three genera from 1977 to 1990 and 1991 to 2006, respectively. The summed temperature of the first four months was the major factor that affected the spring and flowering phenophases of the respective genera. The bud of Calligonum species was expanded during 1977 to 1990 and 1991 to 2006, the flower-buds in Tamarix species appeared during1977 to 2006, the fruit setting of Haloxylon species started 1990 to 2006 and leaf discoloration of Tamarix species appeared during 1977 to 1990.

Key words: Phenology, Desert plant; Climate change, Temperature, Turpan in China.

¹Institute of Ecology and Geography in Xinjiang, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China

²Turpan Eremophytes Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Turpan 838008, China

³Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 8300152, China.

*Corresponding author’s e-mail: water5116@163.com