Plasticity and developing stability contribute to the adaptability differencesin two Elsholtiza species in Tibetan Plateau

In order to explore the effect of Plasticity and developing stability on adaptability difference among species, internodes length and node number of Elsholtiza feddei and E.densa in two field density treatments were studied. The result indicated that plastic prolong of internode length was occurred in both density treatments, and species difference was observed. Density treatment had no significant impact on internode number, but it was different brtween the two species, indicating that internode number was a developing stability trait. E.densa had more internode than E. feddei, its internode length had plastic response to density treatments. So the two traits caused higher plant height of E.densa in higher density treatment, this was a adaptive response and meant that E.densa higher fitness in the high density treatment. More internodes in low density treatment indicated an adaptive response. Compared with E.feddei, E.densa had more internode number and indicated a higher adaptability.