Effects of the Parasite Plant (Cistanche deserticola) on Growth and Biomass of the Host Plant (Haloxylon ammodendron)

At the cultivated Cistanche deserticola base of Forest Tree Breed Station in Jumushaer in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, the host plant H.ammodendron ,planted artificially Cistanche deserticola successfully and collected the seeds of Cistanche deserticola (called treatment A) and the host plant H.ammodendron,planted artificially Cistanche deserticola unsuccessfully(called CK) were investigated.Their height,base diameter, crown size,root and biomass were measured and contrasted.Besides,the new branches growth of treatment A,CK and the host plant H. ammodendron,planted artificially Cistanche deserticola successfully,but it growing in the soils (treatment B) was mensurated termly.The results showed most height,base diameter and crown size of treatment A was smaller than that of the CK.There were more differences in height,base diameter and crown size among the individuals. Compared with the CK,The total biomass of treatment A reduced by 49.29 %, the new branches biomass decreased by 22.6%,the two-year and excess two-year branches biomass decreased by 9.6%,the trunk biomass decreased by 2.2%,the root biomass decreased by 15.6%. But the deadwood biomass of treatment A was double or more than the deadwood biomass of CK. Therefore,it could be inferred that treatment A had been falling into a declining. After H.ammodendron was planted artificially Cistanche deserticola successfully, its fine-root percent increased slightly.The possible cause was the fact that H.ammodendron adopted an ecological strategy for maintaining oneself and supplying nutrition for Cistanche deserticola.But these new branches growth of host H.ammodendron were restrained greatly.