Abstract:In order to understand the effect of shading on growth of Osmanthus fragrans, the changes in physio- ecological characters of three-year-old O. fragrans seedlings in summer were studied under shading in Chengdu. The results showed that the specific leaf weight decreased, chlorophyll b content increased, but the chl a/b was reduced with increment of shading rate. The soluble sugar and soluble protein contents in leaf decreased under shading, while those had the most significant effect under 80% shading. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content in leaf reduced, catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities decreased with increasing of shading rate, and MDA content decreased significantly under 55%-80% shading. The light saturation point (LSP), light compensation point (LCP), maximum net photosynthetic rate (Pmax) and dark respiration rate (Rd) all decreased, but the apparent quantum effciency (AQE) increased under shading. Otherwise, instantaneous light energy utilization (LUE) increased, net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and stomatal conductance (Gs) decreased, inversely intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) increased with the shading rate increment. Therefore, the seedlings of O. fragrans could adapte to strong light environment by improving Pn and antioxidant enzyme activities; enhance weak light utilization ability by decreasing SLW、LSP、LCP and Rd, and increasing chlorophyll content, Ci and AQE, LUE. So, it could grow better under moderate shading (25% and 55% shading rate) in summer.