Abstract: By using sampling plot method, an investigation was conducted on the regeneration characteristics of woody plant seedlings in five kinds of typical secondary forests (Pinus tabulaeformis, Quercus valiena var. acuteserrata, Betula albo-sinensis, Picea asperata, and Pinus armandii) in Qinling Mountains. There was an obvious species differentiation of woody plant seedlings and saplings in the forests. Except for Q. valiena var. acuteserrata and P. armandii forests, the similarity coefficient of the seedlings and saplings species in the forests was lower. The seedlings and saplings quantity, species richness index, Simpson dominance index, and evenness index were higher in P. tabulaeformis and Q. valiena var. acuteserrata forests, the lowest in B. albo-sinensis forest, and basically the same in P. asperata and P. armandii forests. The percentages of the seedlings and saplings in the five forests had significant differences (P＜0.05). Except in B. albo-sinensis forest where the percentage of the saplings was higher, the percentage of the seedlings in the other stands was larger, and in the order of P. asperata forest ＞P. tabulaeformis forest ＞Q. valiena var. acuteserrata forest ＞P. armandii forest,respectively. The sprouting percentage of the seedlings in different forests had significant difference (P＜0.05), and was in the sequence of P. armandii forest＞P. asperata forest ＞B. albo-sinensis forest ＞Q. valiena var. acuteserrata forest ＞P. tabulaeformis forest. In Q. valiena var. acuteserrata and P. tabulaeformis forests, the percentage of tree seedlings was the highest, occupying 68% and 51.4% of the total number of woody seedlings, respectively, and their communities were in the medium succession period,with a stronger persistent regeneration capability; in P. asperata and P.armandii forests,the percentage of tree seedlings was 40% and 15%, respectively, and their communities were in the late succession period, with a rather poor regeneration capability; while in B. albo-sinensis forest, the seedlings were difficult to develop into saplings, and thus, its continuous persistent regeneration capability was lack.

Key words: Qinling Mountains, typical secondary forest, natural regeneration, regeneration mode, succession