Abstract:In order to explore the effects of different periods of rest grazing on root physiological characteristics of Gentiana macrophylla,the following 5 treatments for rest grazing period were designed in alpine meadow in Tianzhu: soil pre-thawing stage (R1),soil mid-thawing stage (R2),soil late-thawing stage (R3),returning green stage (R4) and local traditional rest grazing (R5).By studying the root physiological characteristics changes of G.macrophylla under different grazing rest treatments,the optimum period for rest grazing was determined,which provided basic data for rational development and utilization of G.macrophylla resources in grassland.The results showed that the soluble protein content in roots of G.macrophylla showed a general trend of increasing first and then decreasing along with the rest grazing period.The starch content and CAT activity did not significantly change among different rest grazing treatments (P>0.05).The contents of soluble sugar,Pro,MDA and the production rate of O2- increased with the rest grazing period.And the contents of soluble sugar,Pro,MDA and the production rate of O2- in R5 increased by 49%,67%,54% and 91% respectively compared with that in R1.The SOD content increased and then decreased with the rest grazing period,while the POD content showed a trend of decreasing first and then increasing.Based on the comprehensive analysis of root physiological characteristics,we suggest that grazing should be rested during the pre-thawing stage of soil (R1) to protect and restore wild G.macrophylla resources.