Abstract: By using open-top chamber (OTC), the effects of simulated warming on the growth , leaf phenology, and leaf traits of Salix eriostachya in sub-alpine timber line ecotone of Western Sichuan were studied. The results showed that comparing with the control, the mean air temperature at 12 m above the ground through out S. eriostachya growth season in OTC increased by 29 ℃, while the soil temperature at the depth of 5 cm only increased by 04 ℃. The temperature inc rease in OTC made S. eriostachya budding advanced and defoliation postpon ed obviously, and the leaf life-span longer. The leaf and branch growth rates a s well as the specific leaf area in OTC increased obviously, whereas the leaf ni trogen concentration decreased significantly. In OTC, the stomata conductance, n et photosynthetic rate, photorespiration, and dark respiration rate of S. erio stachya all exhibited an increasing trend. It was suggested that S. eriostac hya had stronger capability to adapt to warming, and, under the background of future global climate change, the elevation of S. eriostachya distribution i n the timberline ecotone would be likely to ascend.

Key words: allelopathy, oridonin, hydrogen sulfide, phospholipase Dα1