Abstract: Savanna distributes widely in the dry-hot valleys,Southwest China.However,few research has been carried on photoprotection of Savanna plants.In order to investigate the effects of drought stress on light energy dissipation of Chinese Savanna plants,Woodfordia fruticosa,a dominant woody species from Chinese Savanna,was sampled during rainy and dry seasons respectively.Its predawn leaf water potential (pd),photosynthetic parameters,light energy dissipation of PSⅠ and PSⅡ were measured.The results showed that photosynthesis rate decreased significantly by the large decline of pd. PSⅠ was more sensitive to drought stress than PSⅡ.Maximum quantum yield of PSⅡ (Fv/Fm) in dry seasons maintained stable mostly,but the effective quantum of PSⅡ［Y(Ⅱ)］and quantum yield of regulated energy dissipation ［Y(NPQ)］ decreased largely.During drought stress,PSⅠ suffered from severe photoinhibition and excessive light energy was dissipated mainly through the enhancement of fraction of overall P700 oxidized in a given state ［Y(ND)］.Under drought stress,electron transport rate via PSⅡ［ETR(Ⅰ)］and electron transport rate via PSⅡ［ETR(Ⅱ)］decreased,and ETRmax(Ⅰ) and ETRmax(Ⅱ) decreased by 25.1% and 30%.