Abstract: A one-growth-season investigation on the growth characteristics of Alhagi sparsifolia Shap. seedlings under controlled groundwater tables was conducted in the Qira oasis in southern margin of Taklamakan Desert. The results indicated that 1) the plant height, branch number, and canopy breadth of the seedlings had good correlations with groundwater table, while leaf number had a larger fluctuation under different groundwater tables; 2) there was no significant difference in the basal stem under groundwater table of 25, 20, 15, and 10 m (P>005); 3) the vertical length of root was significantly affected by groundwater table (P<001); and 4) the root biomass, specific root length, and root surface area at different soil depths differed significantly under different groundwater tables (P<005).

Key words: Plutella xylostella, Cotesia plutellae, Oomyzus sokolowskii, Interspecific interaction