PEG-6000 solutions with different concentrations were used to simulate drought stress.Four treatments were applied:control(CK)

light stress (T1)

moderate stress(T2)and heavy stress(T3)to investigate the effects of drought stress on photosynthetic pigment and root

stem and leaf growth characteristics ofElaeagnus angustifolia.The results show that root length

plant height

and leaf number of the plants exhibited the effects of increasing stress.In comparison of CK

root length

and plant height of T2except for leaf numbers were significantly different.In T3

root length

plant height

leave number

respectively.In T2

fresh and dry weights of root and stem

except for leaf

indicated influences of draught stress in comparison of CK.Similarly

fresh and dry weights of root

stem

and leaf indicated strongest

moderate and least responses to the stress.Along with the increasing degree of drought stress

the contents of chlorophyll a

contents of chlorophyll b

contents of total chlorophyll

and contents of carotinoid Elaeagnus angustifoliaincreased first and then decreased

however

of the ratios of chlorophyll a/b showed opposite tendency.The response of chlorophyll a to drought stress is more sensitive than chlorophyll b.In comparison of CK

soluble proteins of the roots of T1were 18.6%higher

but that of T2and T3were 13.9% and 29.1% lower

respectively.No significant difference was found between stem soluble proteins of T1and CK

however

stem soluble protein of T2and T3was 17.2%and 41.9% higher than that of CK.T3is the only treatment which leaf soluble proteins were significantly higher than CK(24.3%).