Abstract:The effects of drought stress on photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of six kinds of lianas (including Trachelospermum jasminoides, Mucuna sempervirens, Euonymus fortunei, Hedera nepalensis, Lonicera japonica, Parthenocissus laetevirens) were studied to compare their drought tolerance and to screen out drought-resistant plant by using their one-year-old cuttage seedlings. The results showed that the relative chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rates (Pn), stomatal conductances (Gs), transpiration rates (Tr), light saturation point (LSP), light compensation point (LCP), maximal photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm), electron transfer rates (ETR) and photochemical quenching coefficient (qp) were all decreased, while, water use efficiency (WUE) and initial fluorescence (Fo) were increased. The net photosynthetic rate of lonicera japonica was higher than that of the other five kinds of lianas, while, Hedera nepalensis was lower than the other five kinds of lianas in light drought stress (soil moisture was 75%–70% of maximum field moisture capacity). In severe drought stress (soil moisture was 35%–30% of maximum field moisture capacity), the water use efficiency of Trachelospermum jasminoides was the highest, with a value of 7.96 μmol/(m2?s), and that of Parthenocissus laetevirens was the lowest, with the value of 3.82 μmol/(m2?s). From the comprehensive analysis of these photosynthetic characteristics and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, it was concluded that the drought-resistant ability of six kinds of lianas decreased as follow in turn: Trachelospermum jasminoides, Mucuna sempervirens, Euonymus fortunei, Hedera nepalensis, Lonicera japonica, Parthenocissus laetevirens.