Abstract:By using reciprocal transplant method, Eupatorium adenophorum Spreng. s eedlings of five different provenances were reciprocally transplanted into six d ifferent sites in Yunnan Province, with the survival rate, plant height, branch number, biomass, flower number per plant, and seed production measured during th e period from April 2007 to May 2008. The seedlings growth and reproductive trai ts of different provenance E. adenophorum all showed strong plasticity to environmental conditions. With increasing latitude and altitude of transplant site, plant height, branch number, biomass, flower number per plant, and seed prod uction of different provenance E. adenophorum decreased, and the differences in these growth and reproductive traits were significant among the transplant sites . However, there were no significant differences in these traits among different provenance E. adenophorum. Provenance and transplant site had no significan t in teractive effects on the above-mentioned traits except seed production. At each
site, the survival rate, growth potential, and reproductive capability of local provenance E. adenophorum didn’t have any superiority, illustrating that th e su ccess in the invasion of E. adenophorum in Yunnan Province was mainly due to the phenotypic plasticity of the plant, while local adaptability only played lesser important role.