Abstract: To reveal the effect and after-effect of soil water stress on winter wheat, the article employs the experimental results carried out in the greenhouse. The results showed that the root-restricted weights varied with stress degrees and stress times during and after water stress. In the course of stress, the chief reason restricting the weight of roots was the stress intensity at this time, and that of severe stress treatment was larger than that mild of stress treatment. After water stress was relieved, the results of the after-effect of soil water stress on root growth were that the stress intensity of short-time and mild stress was larger than that of long-time and severe stress. Compared the two-stage stress intensities, root-restricted weight resulted from after-effect intensity of stress of short-time treatment, the mild stress treatments and long-time stress treatment; while that resutted from the stress of severe, long-time stress treatment. In general, the effects of water stress on roots could be attributed to three aspects. The three facts, which are a basis formed at previous stage, the after-effect of water condition before this stage and the influence of water at this stage, lead to the characters of root at any growth stage.

Key words: Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum Linn.), Water stress, after-effect of stress, soil water, root