Intra-specific variations of two Leymus chinensis divergence populations in Songnen Plain, northeast China

Population demography, seed production, biomass allocation, net photosynthesis and transpiration of two Leymus chinensis divergent populations and between two years in Songnen plain, northeast China were compared. Strong differences between the dry 1997 and moist 1998 occurred in vegetative shoot and sexual shoot densities, sexual differentiation and tiller densities, as well as in the lengths of inflorescence, seed numbers per inflorescence, seed weights and biomass allocation in each population respectively (P < 0.01). While strong differences between the two populations occurred in vegetative shoot densities, sexual shoot densities, sexual differentiation and seed weights in each year (P < 0.01). The differences between the two populations in tiller densities and in biomass allocation to sexual shoots were significant (P < 0.05). But there were no significant differences between the two populations in the lengths of inflorescence, seed numbers per inflorescence and biomass allocation to rhizomes and vegetative shoots (P > 0.05). Excepting the transpiration rate in the early June, the differences between the two populations in net photosynthesis and transpiration rate of vegetative shoots and sexual shoots were strongly significant in the early June and July respectively (P < 0.01). Relative stable variations in population demography and physiological traits between the two populations indicated that they are divergently in the Songnen Plain.