Abstract: Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel. is a rhizomatous perennial herbage of Gramineae. Reproduction is mainly by vegetative reproduction. Tillering nodes and rhizomes of L. chinensis serve as organs for both vegetative reproduction and nutrient storage. Water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) contents were measured in tillering nodes, nodes and internodes of rhizomes of different age classes of L. chinensis populations at three development stages, namely the dough ripe stage, the vegetative growth stage after full ripeness, and the withering stage, in two habitats: sandy soil and saline-alkaline soil. The results showed that WSC content in tillering nodes of the three age classes of L. chinensis were all markedly decreased with increasing age in both sandy soil and saline-alkaline soil. A similar trend of changes in WSC contents was observed in the nodes and internodes of rhizomes in different age classes in both habitats. The highest WSC contents were in 2-age-class nodes and internodes of rhizomes, followed by those in the 1 age class, with the lowest WSC contents found in 3-age-class nodes and internodes of rhizomes at the dough ripe and vegetative growth stages after full ripening. In turn, WSC contents decreased with increasing age at the withering stage in both habitats. The WSC content in each age class of internode was higher than that in the node of rhizome at three development stages in both habitats.

Key words: Leymus chinensis population, module, rhizome, tillering node, water-soluble carbohydrate