Abstract: Hydrological processes play essential roles in driving the growth, development, reproduction and distribution of wetland plants, with consequences on ecosystem functioning of wetlands. Here, we reviewed the research of the functional traits of wetland plants and elaborated that the research on the wetland plant functional traits is conducive to understand the distribution characteristics of wetland plant in different environments. We could forecast the responses of plants to the environmental changes based on the connection between plant traits and the environment. Many hydrological factors, such as water table, wetting and drying alternation, water depth, water table fluctuation and flooding, may influence plant functional traits in wetlands. To adapt to environmental changes, wetland plants alter functional traits such as plant height, leaf and biomass allocation according to the dominating factors of hydrological processes. Plant phenotypic plasticity is a key trait in determining plant viability under different environments. However, few studies have examined the belowground traits of wetland plants. Future studies should strengthen the research in belowground traits of wetland plants, with emphasis on appliedresearch of the growth and distribution of wetland plants controlled by water level.

Key words: root morphology, rice, oilseed rape straw incorporation, root physiology, yield