The composition and distribution characteristics of Lycium ruthenicum shrub and root system in Yanqi basin, Xinjiang

The composition and distribution characteristics of Lycium ruthenicum brush and root system were studied in the desert grassland in Yanqi basin. The results showed that the shrub of L. ruthenicum consists of old and new clump with parallel of multiline distribution. The roots of L. ruthenicum were root sucker typeunderground vertical stem mainly formed by the horizontal roots and root turion. Adventitious roots, as a special part, had obvious seasonal and specific characteristics which involved in the formation root system of lignified horizontal roots and underground vertical stems after July. Horizontal roots distributed in the soil about 50 cm deep and continued to produce other horizontal roots and underground vertical stems. Underground vertical stems with a multilevel underground meristem and other characteristics. The percentage of underground biomass in total fresh biomass was 33.2%, where the soil moisture in the root system was between 13.7 to 19.1%.