Abstract: In order to select excellent plant species suitable for economic development and vegetation restoration in karst areas, the leaves of 11 common Moraceae plants growing in karst areas of Northwest Guangxi were collected, with their 14 physiological indices such as soluble sugar and proline contents determined. There existed obvious differences in the physiological characteristics among the plants. Ficus hispida had the highest chlorophyll content but F. microcarpa had the lowest one. The soluble sugar content was the highest for
Morus alba but the lowest for F. virens. M. alba contained the highest proline content but F. esquiroliona had the lowest one. There were also obvious differences in other physiological indices, e.g., antioxidant enzyme activities, water-soluble protein, and membrane permeability, among the plant species. All of these indicated that Moraceae plants had complicated adaptation mechanisms and survival strategies to fit the karst environment. It was suggested that in the process of vegetation restoration in karst areas, a reasonable configuration of different species should be considered based on the soil physical and chemical background and the plant biological characteristics. The preferred plant species suitable for rocky hill vegetation rehabilitation would be Broussonetia papyrifer, F. virens, F. microcarpa, Cudrania tricuspidata and F. pumila, the species suitable for wild fruit resources development would be F. esquiroliona and F. variegata var. chlorocarpa, and those suitable for scale management of cash crops would be F. carica and M. alba.

Key words: climate, fire dynamic, ecological zone.