Objective:The influences of drought stress on the seed germination

seedling growth and accumula-tion of the secondary metabolites of Rabdosia rubescens were investigated to disclose the correlation between the accu-mulation of the active components and drought stress.Method:Polyethylene glycol（PEG）-6000 was used to mimic the drought stress condition and HPLC technique was applied to this study.Result:Under the drought stress condi-tion

all of the germination rate

germination index

germination potential

and the growth of the seedlings were more or less inhibited.The accumulation of oridonin

along with the stress increasing

was also significantly affected

but rosma-rinic acid showed no significant changes.Conclusion:The drought stress can remarkably influence the seed germina-tion

seedling growth and oridonin biosynthesis of R.rubescens.