Responses of chlorophyll fluorescence of an invasive plant Spartina alterniflora to continuous waterlogging

A physical control measure of continuous waterlogging was conducted to investigate an invasive plant Spartina alterniflora at a demonstration site of the Chongming Dongtan nature reserve. In this study, the responses of Spartina alterniflora in terms of the parameters of chlorophyll fluorescence and chlorophyll content to continuous waterlogging for two years and to restoring after continuous waterlogging for one year were investigated. The results showed that in the first year of waterlogging, the chlorophyll contents and the parameters of Fv/Fm, Fv/Fo, ETR and qP of S. alterniflora reduced considerably and its photosynthesis could be inhibited. But during the second year of waterlogging, S. alterniflora could adapt to the waterlogging conditions by adjusting heat dissipation and other physiological parameters to meet its growth and reproduction requirements. Once S. alterniflora was released from the waterlogging stress, the photosynthetic activity could recover quickly and even exceed the control, showing over-compensation. Continuous waterlogging stress could inhibit the growth and reproduction of S. alterniflora, but this invasive plant could effectively adapt to the stress by adjusting its physiological parameters to meet the requirements of photosynthesis.