Abstract: Anabasis elatior[WTBZ] is a viviparous subshrub that primarily occurs in the Junggar Desert. Vivipary occurs only in early spring. In order to understand how the physiological property of [WTBX]A. elatior[WTBZ] adapts the low temperature, the MDA, antioxidant enzyme POD, CAT and SOD activities during imbibition and germination of [WTBX]A. elatior[WTBZ] seeds were selected as the physiological indicators to study the physiological response under chilling stress. Moreover, a comparative study between laboratory control and natural environment was conducted to determine the change of activities of antioxidative enzyme POD, CAT and SOD during seed germination under chilling condition. The main results showed that the absolute absorbed water of seeds was stabilized at 5 ℃ after imbibition for 6 hours. MDA content of [WTBX]A. elatior[WTBZ] seeds was maintained in a range from 0.02 to 0.04 μmol•g-1. A stable change of POD activity was remained. CAT and SOD activities were increased after 4 hours imbibition. Compared with the imbibition stage, MDA content of seedlings was declined sharply to a very low level (0.002-0.004 μmol•g-1). POD activity was also significantly deceased. SOD activity was low at the early germination stage. Subsequently, SOD activity was gradually increased to the maximum. CAT activity was markedly increased at the first three growth stages (0-3 cm length) of seedlings, then decreased. The activities of antioxidant enzymes of seedlings in natural environment were higher than those at 5 ℃ in laboratory. The results revealed that both rapid water absorption and synergistic effects of three antioxidant enzymes provided a guarantee to form viviparous seedlings, and also a significance to revealing the propagation approach of desert viviparous shrubs.