Relationship between the seed yield of Cistanche deserticola and the age of Haloxylon ammodendron
To study the relationship between the seed yield of Cistanche deserticola and the age of Haloxylon ammodendron .three to six years old H. ammodendron parasitized by C. deserticola were selected and the seed yield, the yield components of C. deserticola were measured. The results showed that: (1) The base diameter,the height and crown of H. ammodendron, the base diameter and inflorescence length of C. deserticola, total number of capsules, number of effective capsules,single capsule weight and seed yield per plant were interrelated significantly with the age of H. ammodendron and the correlation coefficients were above 0.93; (2) compared with the control and the growth of H. ammodendron (from three years to six years old), the seed yield per plant increased 2-5 times, the proportion of the seed diameter declined less than 0.5 mm,and the seed diameter increased around 0. 5 to 0. 7 mm; (3) the base diameter and inflorescence length of C. deserticola,the total number of capsules,the number of effective capsules,the single capsule weight and the seed yield per H. ammodendron plant of five years old and above parasitized by C. deserticola were increased more than 21. 72 mm, 30. 8 cm, 143, 128 and 11. 810 g respectively. Therefore, H. ammodendron with five years old and above could be used as the host plants of C. deserticola for seed production.