Abstract: This paper studied the sex-specific differences of male and female Populus cathayana seedlings in their ecophysiological characteristics and photosynthesis under the stress of aluminum (216 mg Al³⁺·kg^-1). Under the effects of aluminum, the malonaldehyde (MDA) and soluble protein (Pr) contents of the male and female seedlings increased significantly (P<0.001), and the males had a significantly lower MDA content and a significantly higher Pr content than the females. The peroxidase (POD) activity of the males increased but the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity decreased significantly, while the POD and SOD activities of the females had no significant variation. The net photosynthetic rate (P_n) of both male and female seedlings decreased significantly (P=0.001), and the transpiration rate (T_r) of the female seedlings decreased (P=0.007) and the instant water use efficiency (WUE_i) increased significantly, while no significant variations were observed in the T_r and WUE_i of the male seedlings. The total chlorophyll and chlorophyll a contents and chlorophyll a/b ratio of the females decreased significantly, resulting in a significantly higher chlorophyll a/b ratio of the males. The specific leaf area (SLA) of the females decreased but that of the males increased significantly. No significant variation was observed on the leaf- and stem dry mass. Comparing with the females, the males had higher Pr and chlorophyll contents and higher active antioxidant enzymes activity to maintain higher P_n, and thus, had greater resistance against aluminum stress.

Key words: Populus cathayana, dioecious, aluminum stress, ecophysiological , characteristics