[Objective] This study aimed to reveal responses of Magnolia multiflora to soil drought stress. [Method] Pot experiment was employed to simulate drought stress, and photosynthetic and physiological indices of M. multiflora were determined. [Result] The net photosynthetic rate （Pn） of M. multiflora did not change significantly under mild drought stress, and reduced significantly under moderate and severe drought stress. Drought stress reduced stomatal conductance （Gs）, transpiration rate （Tr） and intercellular CO2 concentration （Ci）, and compared with those in the control group, the Pn, Gs, Tr and Ci under severe drought stress declined by 61.04%, 86.27%, 87.77% and 42.63%, respectively. The malondialdehyde （MDA） content in M. multiflora leaves did not increase significantly under mild drought stress, and increased significantly under moderate and severe drought stress. The MDA content in M. multiflora leaves under severe drought stress was 1.63 times as high as that in the control group. The proline （Pro） and soluble sugar contents of M. multiflora increased significantly with the aggravation of drought stress, and those under severe drought stress were 8.06 times and 3.16 times respectively higher than those in the control group. [Conclusion] M. multiflora has a strong drought tolerance, and is suitable for growing in relatively arid environment. It can be used as candidate for vegetation restoration in hydropower engineering slope.
