Soil heterotrophic respiration in Casuarina equisetifolia plantation at different stand ages

The soil respiration rates （Rh） in 6-year-old （young）, 17-year-old （middle-age）, 31-year-old （mature） Casuarina equisetifolia coastal plantations were measured using an LICOR-8100 automated soil CO2 flux system from May 2006 to April 2007. Results show that Rh displayed an obvious seasonal pattern across the observed years. The maximum values of Rh occurred at June and July and the minimum at December and January. Soil temperature and soil moisture as well as their interaction had significant effects on the monthly dynamics of Rh. The analysis by one-way ANOVA showed that Rh had a significantly exponential relation （p〈0.05） to soil temperature at soil depth of 5 cm, and had a linear relation （p〈0.05） to soil water content of the upper 20 cm. The result estimated by the two-factor model shows that soil temperature at soil depth of 5 cm and soil moisture at soil depth of 20 cm could explain 68.9%-91.9% of seasonal variations in Rh. The or- der of Rh rates between different stand ages was middle-age plantation〉mature plantation〉young-age plantation. With the increase of growth age of plantation, the Q10 of Rh increased. The contribution of Rh to total soil surface CO2 flux was 71.89%, 71.02% and 73.53% for the young, middle-age and mature plantation, respectively. It was estimated that the annual CO2 fluxes from Rh were 29.07, 38.964 and 30.530 t.ha^-1.a^-1 for the young, middle-age and mature plantation, respectively.

滨海沙地木麻黄(Casuarina equisetifolia)人工林细根养分与能量动态

2005年1月到2005年11月对福建省惠安县赤湖林场不同林龄木麻黄人工林细根养分和能量的季节动态进行了观测,结果表明:(1)6种元素的含量在不同林龄木麻黄细根中都具有明显的季节变化。各林龄细根的N含量一般在冬夏季节较高,且死细根的N浓度高于相同林龄的活细根,除12林龄活细根P浓度在7月份有最大值外,其他各林龄活、死细根在一年中呈波动性下降,K含量在冬季较高,而在其他季节变化幅度不大,除5林龄活细根和18林龄死细根在3月份和7月份有两个峰值外,其他林龄细根Ca含量随季节变化较小,Mg含量随季节变化总体呈下降趋势,而在11月份上升;各林龄C则呈波浪形变化;(2)随着林龄的增大,细根N、P、Mg含量的变化模式相似,都呈先增加,后降低,再增加的趋势,K和Ca含量变化趋势相似,但变动幅度存在差别,C则呈波浪形变化;(3)随着季节的变化,灰分、干重热值和去灰分热值呈"V"形变动,一年中都存在两个峰值,分别在3月份和7月份或9月份;(4)灰分、干重热值和去灰分热值随林龄的增大表现为波浪形增加。由此可见,不同森林类型的细根养分和能量动态具有季节和林龄的特殊性,在进行整个地区森林生态系统物质循环和能量流动研究时,应考虑不同森林类型的特性。

粗枝木麻黄(Casuarina glauca)小枝中缩合单宁提取条件的探讨

探讨了对粗枝木麻黄(Casuarinaglauca)小枝多酚(Polyphenols)和缩合单宁(Condensedtannins)的适合提取条件.为确保样品中的多酚和缩合单宁的含量不被低估,含有1.0%HCl的7:3的丙酮水提取液是合适的提取溶剂.它能抑制以共价键结合的蛋白质和纤维素结合态的缩合单宁在样品处理过程中形成和在此酸性条件下对形成的复合物有一定的溶解,能提取出最大量的可溶态的多酚和缩合单宁.同时通过3次以上的提取,样品颗粒大小对可溶性多酚和缩合单宁的影响不显著,但是在全部过100目筛的样品研磨处理下能最多地将结合态的缩合单宁转化为可溶态.

水分胁迫对木麻黄(Casuarina.Sp.)小枝活性氧伤害的定量分析

两种木麻黄在水分胁迫条件下水势、质膜相对透性、超氧离子、MDA和 SOD之间都显著相关 .但 CAT和 POD与水势、质膜相对透性、超氧离子、MDA和 SOD等指标之间的相关关系不一致 ,大部分不显著 .水势对质膜相对透性、MDA、超氧离子和 SOD的弹性系数均属于 EP<0 ,处于水势对这些生理指标的负效应阶段 .SOD对质膜相对透性、MDA和超氧离子的弹性系数均小于 1 ,属于 0 <EP<1 ,处于 SOD活性对质膜相对透性的效应的递减阶段 .超氧离子对质膜相对透性和 MDA的弹性系数均小于 1 ,属于 0 <EP<1 ,处于超氧离子对质膜相对透性的效应的递减阶段 .抗旱能力不同的两种木麻黄弹性系数和相应的边际量不同 .

木麻黄(Casuarina equisetifolia)内生真菌的分离与促生菌株的筛选

采用组织分离法从福建省大鹤林场不同年龄木麻黄各组织器官中分离与纯化得到65株内生真菌.研究木麻黄内生真菌在其器官构件内的分布规律,同时按水培和盆栽两种方式侵染无性系苗,测定接菌苗木的新梢长度,筛选出促生长的菌株.结果表明:木麻黄内生真菌主要分布于植株的鳞状叶小枝和根中,分别占筛选出菌株数量的40.0%和41.5%,且随着树龄的增大,内生真菌的数量减少;在水培苗浸泡菌液方式下的接菌处理能显著增加苗木的平均抽梢量,促进水培苗生长.其中,菌株18处理下苗木的平均抽梢量为54.85 cm,是对照苗木的7.62倍.

厦门三种木麻黄属(Casuarina)植物的种内遗传变异和种间亲缘关系分析

利用水平切片淀粉凝胶电泳技术,对厦门市木麻黄属的三种木麻黄种内遗传变异和种间亲缘关系进行了研究。共检测了6个酶系统12个酶位点.三种木麻黄种内都维持有较高的遗传变异水平。普通木麻黄、细枝木麻黄和粗枝木麻黄的多态位点百分率(P)分别为83.3％、83.3％和75.0％;期望杂合度(He)分别为0.436、0.429和0.399;观察杂合度(Ho)分别为0.523、0.420和0.482.在普通木麻黄和粗枝木麻黄中,均存在杂合子过量的情况,而细枝木麻黄符合Hardy-Weiberg平衡.三种木麻黄种间的遗传一致度很高(0.9605-0.9654),体现出其亲缘关系很近.相似的生境和相同的染色体数目使其种间的分化很小。

Effects of Lanthanum on Redox Systems in Plasma Membranes of Casuarina equisetifolia Seedlings Under Acid Rain Stress

The effects of lanthanum on some redox system(PMRS) properties of the plasma membrane(PM) vesicles from Casuarina equisetifolia seedlings under artificial acid rain(pH 4.5)stress were studied. The results show that there are NADH oxidase and EDTA Fe 3+ reductase, and nitrate reductase in the seedling PM, and they have different responses to soaking seeds for 8 h in a series of LaCl 3 solution. The NADH oxidase activities and the Nitrate reductase activities can be stimulated when La 3+ concentrations is in the range of 50～200 mg·L -1 , but their activities are inhibited or fluctuate by the higher La 3+ concentrations. The EDTA Fe 3+ reductase activities can be stimulated by La 3+ concentrations in the range of 50～400 mg·L -1 . The research also revealed that La 3+ reduces the relative permeability of membranes and have the function in protecting membranes under acid rain stress by the way of inhibiting the leakage of electrolyte.

Effects of La^(3+) on ATPase Activities of Plasma Membrane Vesicles Isolated from Casuarina Equisetifolia Seedlings under Acid Rain Stress

The effects of La^(3+) on the growth and the ATPases activities of plasma membrane(PM) vesicles isolated from Casuarina equisetifolia seedlings under artificial acid rain(pH 4.5) stress were studied. The results show that the height, length of roots, fresh weight and PM H^+-ATPase activites of Casuarina equisetifolia seedlings increase by the treatments of soaking seeds in LaCl_3 solutions with lower concentrations, and those can reach their peak values by treating with 200 mg·L^(-1) La^(3+). However, in comparison with the CK, those are inhibited by the higher La^(3+) concentrations; PM Ca^(2+)-ATPase activity is inhibited with the treatments of La^(3+). The results also reveal that the H^+-ATPase activity and the growth of cell enlarge have a remarkable positive correlation, and La^(3+) activating H^+-ATPase can facilitate plant growth. La^(3+) also can alleviate cytosolic acidification of plant under acid rain stress and indirectly maintain the stability of intracellular environment. In order to resistant to acid rain and accelerate the growth of Casuarina equisetifolia, the suitable range of La^(3+) concentrations to soak seeds for 8 h is 50～200 mg·L^(-1).

Multi-Trace Element and Rare Earth Element Composition of Coastal Casuarina Equisetifolia Ecosystem in Hainan Island,China

46 trace elements including 14 rare earth elements (REEs) in coastal Casuarina equisetifolia plant-soil system from 9 sampling sites in Hainan Island were detected by using ICP-MS. The aim is to explore the biogeochemical characteristics of migration and translocation of trace elements in soil-plant system and their function on the changes of environmental geochemistry. The results indicate that multi-trace elements in coastal sandy soil in Hainan Island are at very low level. The multi-element patterns are quite similar among plant,sandy soil and upper continental crust (UCC),and the magnitudes of trace element concentrations among them are different in the general order of plant<soil<UCC. Sandy soil has trace element concentrations with 1～2 orders of magnitudes less than those of the average UCC,while plant has 1～3 orders of magnitudes less than UCC and 1～2 orders less than the soil. The total trace element contents are not significantly different between root and needle,but significantly different between branch and root and between branch and needle. Those of root or needle are about 2 times of those of branch. Ag,Cd,In,Sn and Tl are enriched in C. equisetifolia,especially Ag.

Investigation and Analysis of Understory Vegetation in Casuarina equisetifolia Forests in Northern Hainan Province

Understory vegetation in the Casuarina equisetifolia forests at different ages was sampled and analyzed fi rstly, and then the structural features, biomass, and distribution characteristics of carbon stock of the understory vegetation, as well as the quantity and thickness of the understory litter were studied. The results show that the understory vegetation in the C. equisetifolia forests is mainly composed of herbaceous plants, and there are nearly no shrubs in the study area. Moreover, the quantity of herbaceous plants rises obviously with the increase of forest age. There is a big difference between the woodlands at different ages in total biomass of herbaceous plants, and the maximum of total biomass can be found in 15-year-old woodland, reaching 1.68 t/hm^2; the biomass of overground parts of herbaceous plants is higher than that of underground parts. There is a big difference between the woodlands at different ages in thickness of the understory litter, and the thickness of understory litter in 10-yearold woodland is the highest, reaching 6.67 cm. The maximum quantity of the understory litter has reached 14.69 t/hm^2, and the thickness of the half decomposed litter is larger than that of the undercomposed litter in most woodlands.

Seasonal variation and ecological importance of tannin and nutrient concentrations in Casuarina equisetifolia branchlets and fine roots

In this study,we investigated the effects of environmental factors on plant phenolic variability,seasonal dynamics of total phenolic content(TP),extractable condensed tannins(ECT),protein-bound condensed tannins(PBCT),fiber-bound condensed tannins(FBCT),total condensed tannins(TCT),protein precipitation capacity(PPC)and nutrient content in the branchlets and fine roots of Casuarina equisetifolia.TP and TCT concentrations in branchlets were lowest in the spring,then increased in summer and autumn,similar to the seasonal dynamics in air temperature.TP and TCT concentrations in fine roots were highest in summer,coinciding with heavy precipitation.In general,TP and TCT concentrations were higher in branchlets than in fine roots.No significant difference was found in C concentration among various seasons for either branchlets or fine roots.Branchlets had significantly higher N and P concentrations than fine roots in most seasons.The C/N and N/P ratios in branchlets were significantly lower than in fine roots in all seasons,except summer.The relationship between branchlets and fine roots was significant for C,P and FBCT,but no significant relationships were found for N,TP,ECT,PBCT and TCT.Additionally,TP and TCT content were each significantly correlated with PPC in branchlets and in fine roots.Both TP/N and TCT/N ratios were highest in the autumn for the branchlets and in the summer for fine roots.The results indicate that high temperatures lead to increased tannin production in branchlets,but that the tannin content in fine roots is mainly affected by precipitation.Tannin content was greater in branchlets than in fine roots,which may indicate that selective pressure is greater on branchlets than on fine roots.

Effect of Casuarina Crushed Nodules, Rhizospheric Soil and Leaves Compost on Salt Tolerance of <i>Casuarina equisetifolia</i>L. and <i>Casuarina obesa</i>Miq.

Soil salinization is one of the major causes of land degradation. In Senegal, this phenomenon continues to grow, making soils unsuitable for agriculture. To rehabilitate salty lands, one of the recommended strategies is the use of salt-tolerant plants. Among them, plants of Casuarinaceae family form a relationship with symbiotic microorganisms such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and nitrogen fixing bacteria. It has been shown that symbiotic microorganisms play an important role in the establishment of tolerant plants in saline conditions (Djighaly et al., 2018). They improve plant performance and reduce transplant shock under salt stress conditions (Diagne et al., 2014). These microorganisms can be used as biofertilizers. However, inocula containing symbiotic microorganisms are either too expensive or unavailable in many developing countries. The aim of this study is to test alternatively affordable and low-tech solutions to promote symbiotic interactions such as Casuarina crushed nodule, Casuarina rhizosphere soil and Casuarina leaves compost that may contain symbiotic microorganisms and also nutrients such as N and phosphorus. Two species of Casuarina (Casuarina equisetifolia L. and Casuarina obesa Miq.) were grown in the greenhouse on sterile soil to which an amendment was added (Casuarina crushed nodules, Casuarina Rhizospheric soil or Casuarina leaves compost). Plants were subjected to saline stress. After four months of cultivation, they were harvested and morphological and physiological parameters were determined. Results showed that inoculation with Casuarina crushed nodules, Casuarina rhizospheric soil and Casuarina leaves compost improved growth, total dry biomass, total chlorophyll and proline contents of C. equisetifolia and C. obesa plants in salt stress condition. These positive effects were more important in C. obesa plants amended with Casuarina leaves compost. This study shows that Casuarina leaves compost can play an important role in the rehabilitation of saline soils by improving Casuarina trees performance in saline conditions.

Large Scale Multiplication of Casuarina junghuhniana Miq. Clonal Plants through Mini-cutting Technique

The modern concept of meeting the customer’s requirements in better products at low costs in a sustainable manner is possible only through innovative methods.The nodal cutting technique is the most widely used method for large scale propagation of Casuarina,Eucalyptus and other pulpwood species in India.Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Limited(TNPL)has started large scale multiplication of Casuarina junghuhniana Miq.using mini-cutting technique from indoor clonal mini hedges raised in sand beds.When compared to stem/nodal cuttings,indoor clonal mini hedges raised in sand beds improve the rooting potential,quality of root systems and are time-and cost-saving.The productivity of cuttings is increased five times in indoor clonal hedge orchard than conventional stem/nodal cutting.The rooting percentage also improved to 90%without rooting hormone whereas the same is only 50%in stem cutting.The plant developed through mini-cutting technique has more lateral root system which helps the plants/trees to withstand during heavy winds.Replacing such stump derived stock plants by intensively managing indoor sand bed clonal mini hedges resulted in a noticeable enhancement of cutting capacity for adventitious rooting as well as the overall quality of the plants produced in much shorter period with easier and cheaper maintenance.The study reveals that mini-cutting method is ideal propagation technique for large scale propagation of C.junghuhniana clones in India.

木麻黄细根形态和化学计量特征对P添加的塑性响应

探究不同发育阶段木麻黄防护林细根形态和化学计量特征对磷(P)添加的塑性响应规律,为滨海沙地土壤低磷限制下进行木麻黄不同发育阶段有针对性的施肥抚育提供科学依据。以福建省平潭岛木麻黄幼龄林(5 a)、中龄林(12 a)和成熟林(25 a)为研究对象,以内生长土芯法开展P添加试验,细根在内生长芯生长一年后,采用功能划分法对细根形态性状和化学计量特征进行测定。结果表明:(1)P添加显著提高木麻黄细根根长和根表面积,其中,总根长和总表面积总体提高7.79倍、8.69倍,比根长和比表面积总体提升15.1%、19.5%;(2)不同根系功能类群间,细根形态对P添加的塑性响应具有较显著差异,形态塑性以吸收根为主,且吸收根对P养分资源的响应更为敏感,P添加使吸收根P含量总体提高56.0%,C/P和N/P总体降低18.7%和38.7%,组织密度总体降低31.4%;(3)对于土壤P养分资源的变化,不同林龄木麻黄采取不同的塑性响应策略,P添加后,幼龄林主要通过吸收根化学计量特征变异,改变自身生理性状获取P元素,中龄林细根形态和化学计量特征无显著变异,成熟林主要通过改变吸收根形态,扩大根系吸收面积获取P元素。外源P添加可以协调木麻黄细根形态与化学计量特征的内部关系,而不同林龄木麻黄细根在获取P资源时会选择性投资。故在木麻黄施肥抚育时,应根据不同林龄采取针对性的抚育方案。

景观型木麻黄新品种′如意凤′

在福建省惠安赤湖国有防护林场国家木麻黄种质资源库中,经过长期观察发现特异性状的单株,然后对特异性状单株进行无性繁殖获得无性系苗木进行DUS测试,于2023年获得植物新品种的授权(品种名:如意凤,品种权号:20230152)。新品种′如意凤′的树冠呈圆锥形,主干树皮块状开裂如蛇纹,树皮灰褐色;齿状叶尖端红色,紧贴;符合植物新品种特异性、一致性和稳定性要求,具有较高的景观价值。研究结果可为滨海地区的绿化和美化提供种质资源。

平潭岛木麻黄群落灌木层优势物种生态位及种间联结分析

为探究平潭岛木麻黄群落灌木层优势物种的种间关系及群落发展状态,基于群落调查数据,通过生态位特征计算和种间联结分析,结果表明:(1)灌木层植物共计56种,重要值和生态位宽度最大的为木麻黄;生态位宽度并不完全与物种重要值大小变化一致,还可能与频度有关。(2)有43.8%的种对不产生生态位重叠,优势物种间的生态位重叠程度普遍较低;生态位宽度较小的物种也存在与其他物种产生较大的生态重叠现象。(3)灌木层优势物种的总体联结性呈不显著负联结。(4)χ2检验、Pearson相关检验和Spearman秩相关检验结果均表明种间关联程度较弱,种间联结较松散;AC值比χ2检验增加了联结显著率,但是也夸大了联结性的强度,导致出现极显著负联结种对数过高的现象。平潭岛木麻黄灌木层群落处于不稳定的演替阶段,亟需加强其群落稳定性的构建和植被修复保护的相关工作。

木麻黄基干林带对台风“杜苏芮”的防风效应

为了解海防林对台风的防护效应,以惠安赤湖国有防护林场监测站收集的“杜苏芮”台风登陆前后的气象数据为材料,分析了台风登陆前后近地层的风速、风向、湍流强度、防风效能和气流加速率等的特征规律。结果表明:(1)台风登陆前后的平均风速和风向时程变化特征满足了台风眼区经过的条件,平均风速曲线呈“M”形双峰分布,通过采集到的台风眼区、眼壁和外围强风的完整风况数据,完整展示了台风经过林带前后风速、风向的演变过程。(2)湍流强度的时程整体变化趋势随着台风靠近和离去呈现增大-减小-剧增-回落的过程,尤其台风后风圈影响的区域,湍流强度剧烈增大,强度可增大2倍以上。(3)向岸风在垂直方向上,弱风或强风的防风效能随高度增加而降低,高度相同,林带后弱风的防风效能小于强风;水平方向上,林内及林带后1H和5H处防风效能最好,在高度3 m平均防风效能为49.57%~93.93%,在高度9 m平均防风效能为44.04%~90.10%。离岸风在垂直方向上,随着气流靠近林带,弱风或强风的气流加速率随高度增加而增大,林带后1H高度3 m气流加速率平均为0.2193,高度9 m气流加速率平均为0.3242,林内气流加速率达到最低值;而风越过林带后,弱风风速恢复到88%左右,强风的气流则有个加速的过程。

光强对木麻黄幼苗根系形态、解剖结构及其碳氮含量的影响

对光环境的灵敏响应使得森林中常见的光照异质性成为影响植物自我更新的关键因素,然而植物地下根系结构对光照的响应较为难测而缺乏深入研究。为探究不同光强下木麻黄根系响应策略,以一年生木麻黄(Casuarina equisetifolia)幼苗为试验材料,模拟森林幼苗生长的林外(CK)、林缘(L1)、林窗(L2)和林下光环境(L3)设置4种光照强度,测定及分析木麻黄幼苗的生长、根系形态、细根解剖结构及碳氮含量等指标。结果表明:(1)L1下,幼苗采取维持高度,降低横向生长的方式,保证正常累积生物量,随光照强度的下降,株高、地径、叶片生物量及地上部分生物量逐渐下降。(2)在根系表型上,幼苗随光限制的加重呈现抑制纵伸但促进根系的横向生长,其中总根长、根平均直径及根体积达到显著差异。在径级结构上,细根发育程度随光照减弱而下降;而适当的遮光(L1)促进粗根生长但L3时除根尖数较CK上升外,根长度、根表面积、根体积均显著下降。(3)1—3级细根解剖变化较大,相较CK,1级细根皮层细胞面积显著增加,但根半径、维管柱结构、表皮厚度等指标则显著下降,2级细根根半径、皮层细胞面积、表皮厚度明显减少,但维管柱结构仅在L2、L3时显著下降;3级细根根半径、皮层细胞面积和维管柱面积均较CK显著增大,L1时维管柱结构下降,但随光照减弱加重,维管柱面积和中柱占比均明显增加。(4)在碳氮含量上,CK与L1无显著差异,TC在L2时显著下降,TN则在L2时显著上升,TC、TN均在L3达到最大,而C:N随光强降低逐渐下降。综上所述,光限制时,木麻黄生物量及碳分配稳定根茎部分生长,采取“弱化吸收,强化储存”收缩型生长策略;当限制加重时,光合和呼吸作用失衡导致植物对细根投入养分的浪费,并最终造成林木死亡。研究结果为林下植被的更新提供理论参考。

连栽对木麻黄人工林根际土壤古菌群落变化的影响

[目的]探究连栽对木麻黄人工林根际土壤古菌群落变化的影响,为探明木麻黄连栽障碍机制提供基础理论依据。[方法]以3个不同连栽代数(第一代First continuous plantation,FCP;第二代Second continuous plantation,SCP;第三代Third continuous plantation,TCP)的木麻黄人工林根际土壤为材料,以未种植木麻黄的天然乔木林根际土壤作为对照(CK),通过Illumina NovaSeq测序平台对古菌群落进行高通量测序。[结果]从3个不同连栽代数木麻黄人工林根际土壤和对照土壤中总共得到1 146 390条有效序列,以100%序列相似度聚类得到998 515个ASV。Alpha多样性分析结果表明,所观察到的物种数和Chao1指数均随着连栽代数的增加呈现下降的趋势,而Shannon指数、Simpson指数和pielou_e均以FCP最高,TCP次之,SCP最低。Beta多样性分析、PCoA分析、UPGMA聚类分析和Anosim分析结果表明,不同连栽代数木麻黄根际土壤古菌群落物种多样性存在差异,但不同组间差异不显著。共检测到5个门,优势菌门为奇古菌门(Thaumarchaeota),且奇古菌门占比随着栽植代数的增加呈现下降的趋势,与对照相比,FCP、SCP、TCP分别下降了17.42%、50.97%、51.51%。古菌群落与土壤理化性质相关性分析结果显示,奇古菌门与pH、全钾(TK)、全氮(TN)、全磷(TP)呈显著正相关,泉古菌门与速效磷(AP)和速效氮(AN)呈显著正相关,不同古菌群落与土壤理化因子之间的相关性存在显著差异。[结论]本研究证实了木麻黄人工林经过多代连续栽植后,根际土壤古菌群落结构发生显著变化,推测古菌群落结构失衡是导致土壤微生态失衡的重要原因之一。研究结果为揭示木麻黄人工林连栽障碍形成的原因提供了理论依据。

Seasonal changes in tannin and nitrogen contents of Casuarina equisetifolia branchlets

Seasonal dynamics of total phenolics (TP), extractable condensed tannins (ECT), protein-bound condensed tannins (PBCT), fiber-bound condensed tannins (FBCT), total condensed tannins (TCT), and protein precipitation capacity (PPC) in young, mature and senescent branchlets of Casuarina equisetifolia were studied at Chishan Forestry Center of Dongshan County, Fujian Province, China. In addition, nitrogen contents of branchlets at the different developmental stages were also determined. The contents of TP and ECT, and PPC in young branchlets were significantly higher than those in mature and senescent branchlets through the season. However, PBCT contents were significantly higher in senescent branchlets than those in young and mature branchlets; FBCT fluctuated with season. Young branchlets had the highest N content, which decreased during branch maturity and senescence. The highest contents of TP and the lowest contents of TCT and N in young and mature branchlets were observed in summer. There was a significant negative correlation between TP and N contents. In contrast, TCT contents were positively correlated to N contents. Nutrient resorption during senescence and high TCT:N ratios in senescent branchlets are the important nutrient conservation strategies for C. equisetifolia.