Abstract:The effect of varying temperature on the growth of Dendrobium nobile Lindl. was studied under different light intensities. In the tillering stage,Dendrobium nobile was treated with different temperatures (15℃,20℃ , 25℃, 30℃ and 35℃) in different light intensities (80 μmol·m-2·s-1, 160 μmol·m-2·s-1,320μmol·m-2 ·s-1 and 640μmol·m-2·s-1). Growth and metabolism of D. nobile peaked at 25-30℃ in 80 μmol·m-2·s-1 and 20-25℃ in 160 μmol·m-2·s-1 light intensity. At 320 μmol·m-2·s-1 and 640 μmol·m-2·s-1 of light, D. nobile growth was highest at 25℃. At all light intensities, temperatures of 20℃ and 25℃ had a significant positive effect on reproductive capacity, while fresh weight production was strongest at 25℃. The MDA content initially declined with increasing temperature, but increased again with the higher temperatures. The reverse trend was observed in chlorophyll, soluble protein and total sugar content. The MDA content was lowest and chlorophyll,soluble protein and total sugar content was highest in the 25℃ treatment. Net photosynthetic rate followed the same patterns as that of chlorophyll content. However, dark respiratory rate was improved with increasing temperature under each of the light intensities. These observed patterns of physiological and biochemical changes in D. nobile indicate that while higher temperatures and lower light conditions resulted in an increase in the plant height, the fresh weight and growth mass was significantly negatively correlated to the content of MDA(r80=-0.9082、r160=-0.9816、r320=-0.8075、r640=-0.8586) but positively related to the content of total sugar (r80=0.7673、r160=0.8892、r320=0.8179、r640=0.9278);the growth mass showed corresponding changes with the soluble protein and chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rate. Optimal temperature for D. nobile growth is approximately 25 ℃ across the varied light intensities.