Abstract: To identify the effect of twig blight on the absorption and distribution of potassium in bayberry（Myrica rubra） trees, the healthy bayberry was used as a control to determine the contents of potassium in various organs of the symptomatic and symptomless diseased bayberry trees, including the leaves and limbs （barks and trunks） from the annual shoots, leaves and limbs （barks and trunks） from two or three-year-branches, and roots （velamen and root trunk）. The contents of available potassium in rhizosphere soils of healthy and diseased plants were also determined. The results showed that, compared to the control, the contents of potassium in symptomless tender leaves and symptomless old leaves of diseased bayberry trees, symptomless barks and trunks of epicormic branches and old branches, and root trunks of diseased bayberry trees were increased by 0.27, 0.23, 0.21, 0.17, 0.25, 0.17 and 0.10 percentage points, respectively, which were both significantly higher than those of healthy bayberry trees. However, the contents of potassium in symptomatic tender leaves of diseased bayberry trees were decreased by 0.20 percentage points, and the contents of available potassium in rhizosphere soils of diseased bayberry trees were decreased by 42.14 mg/kg, which were both significantly lower than those of healthy bayberry trees. The absorption and distribution of potassium in bayberry trees were seriously affected by twig blight.

Key words: bayberry（Myrica rubra）, twig blight, potassium, absorption and distribution