OBJECTIVETo understand the process of Cistanche tubulosa.

METHODThe process of seed germination and parasitism was observed using stereomicroscope.

RESULTSeedling of C. tubulosa sprouted after forty day without host root's contact in fields, a tube-like-organ formed and grew auger-type from host root, the tuber apex where touches host root swelled and formed haustorium. Haustorium intruded host root epidermis and vascular bundles, and released brown substances. Then, embryo bud with six or more young leaves formed, finally the swelled tuber-like-organ broken and seed coat shed. Due to the parasitism of C. tubulosa, the host root near stem site swelled, but the other part, shrunk and disappered gradually.

CONCLUSIONSeed of C. tubulosa could germinate indepently in fields. Tuber-like-organ formatin, haustorium formation and bud formation are key steps of C. tubulosa seedling development.

Cistanche ; growth & development ; Germination ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; Seeds ; growth & development ; Symbiosis ; Tamaricaceae ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo increase inoculation rate of Cistanche tubulosa in the field by studying inoculation technologies.

METHODRoot-tube inoculation methed was used on field experiments. Inoculation rate of C. tubulosa was compared to different size seeds and inoculation mediums and inoculation time.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONMay is suitable inoculation time. The inoculation rate of C. tubulosa is 92.5% while the seed width is more than 0.7 mm and coarse sand is selected during inoculation period.

Cistanche ; growth & development ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; Seasons ; Seeds ; growth & development ; Symbiosis ; Tamaricaceae ; growth & development

OBJECTIVEThe experiments were conducted to study specialty of seed germinating, plant growing and developing and cultural practices of A. edgeworthii.

METHODThe germinating and sowing test, growth habitants, photosensitive reaction of seedling from subterraneous seeds and above ground seeds on A. edgeworthii were studied in this experiment.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe results indicated that (1) The water could not be absorbed by seed from plant above ground; (2) The underground and above ground seeds could normally germinate, grow, blossom and bear fruits, A. edgeworthii sowed in early May, blossomed in early September and matured in the last ten days of October; (3) The seed leaf of seedling grew underground; (4) The underground seed was produced from subterraneous branch stem which developed from node of seed leaf; (5) A. edgeworthii was shade demanding, high-temperature sensible short-day light plant. The flowering could be greatly advantaged by short-day light treatment (12, 10, 8, 6 h). Cultural practices were studied also in this experiment.

Fabaceae ; growth & development ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; Seedlings ; growth & development ; Seeds ; growth & development ; Sunlight

So far there exists no corresponding quality test procedures and grading standards for the seed of Prunus humilis, which is one of the important source of base of semen pruni. Therefor we set up test procedures that are adapt to characteristics of the P. humilis seed through the study of the test of sampling, seed purity, thousand-grain weight, seed moisture, seed viability and germination percentage. 50 cases of seed specimens of P. humilis tested. The related data were analyzed by cluster analysis. Through this research, the seed quality test procedure was developed, and the seed quality grading standard was formulated. The seed quality of each grade should meet the following requirements: for first grade seeds, germination percentage ≥ 68%, thousand-grain weight 383 g, purity ≥ 93%, seed moisture ≤ 5%; for second grade seeds, germination percentage ≥ 26%, thousand-grain weight ≥ 266 g, purity ≥ 73%, seed moisture ≤9%; for third grade seeds, germination percentage ≥ 10%, purity ≥ 50%, thousand-grain weight ≥ 08 g, seed moisture ≤ 13%.
Cluster Analysis ; Germination ; Prunus ; growth & development ; Seeds ; physiology

In order to optimize the testing methods for Paeonia suffruticosa seed quality, and provide basis for establishing seed testing rules and seed quality standard of P. suffruticosa. The seed quality of P. suffruticosa from different producing areas was measured based on the related seed testing regulations. The seed testing methods for quality items of P. suffruticosa was established preliminarily. The samples weight of P. suffruticosa was at least 7 000 g for purity analysis and was at least 700 g for test. The phenotypic observation and size measurement were used for authenticity testing. The 1 000-seed weight was determined by 100-seed method, and the water content was carried out by low temperature drying method (10 hours). After soaking in distilled water for 24 h, the seeds was treated with different temperature stratifications of day and night (25 degrees C/20 degrees C, day/night) in the dark for 60 d. After soaking in the liquor of GA3 300 mg x L(-1) for 24 h, the P. suffruticos seeds were cultured in wet sand at 15 degrees C for 12-60 days for germination testing. Seed viability was tested by TlC method.
Germination ; Light ; Paeonia ; growth & development ; Quality Control ; Seeds ; physiology ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo understand the effect of illumination, temperature on the germination of the Prunella vulgaris seeds.

METHODThe general germination method.

RESULTIllumination showed no clearly effect on the germination rate of the P. vulgaris seeds under proper temperature condition; However, illumination was the main factor to determine the germination rate of the P. vulgaris seeds when the temperature condition was unsuitable. The germination rate of the P. vulgaris seeds decreased with the time and increased when the marinating time was from 12 to 36 hours. When temperature reached 5-25 9 degrees C, the trend of the germination rate increased at frst and then decreased.

CONCLUSIONThe optimal germination condition of P. vulgaris seeds is 12 h of marinating time at the temperature of 20 degrees C under illumination.

Germination ; Lighting ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; Prunella ; growth & development ; Seeds ; growth & development ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo study the seed dormancy mechanisms and the optimal seed germinating conditions, so as to provide basis for the seed testing of Changium smyrnioides.

METHODPut the seeds into wettish sand under temperature of 25, 20, 15, 10, 5 degrees C, observe the shape changing of embryo and measure its length every other 10 days. Carry on experiments of seed germination under temperature of 25,20, 15, 10, 5 degrees C on the paper bed and sand bed, determine the time of germination starting, time of germination lasting, germination rate and germination energy.

RESULTEmbryo grew the most quickly under 15 degrees C. The seed germination was largely prohibited when the temperature is higher than 20 degrees C. The mildew rate was very high under 25, 20, 15, 10 degrees C. Put the seeds under 5 degrees C for 45 days could quickly break off its dormancy, and its mildew rate was lower. The seeds germinate fastest under the condition of 15-10 degrees C on the paper bed, and its germination rate was the highest.

CONCLUSIONThe morphological post-maturation seems the major dormancy mechanism of C. smyrnioides. Temperature is a major factor that affect seed germination of C. smymioides. The best pretreatment method is to put the seeds into 5 degrees C of wettish sand for 45 days. The best germination bed is the paper bed, and the best germination temperature is 15-10 degrees C.

Apiaceae ; growth & development ; physiology ; Germination ; physiology ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; physiology ; Seeds ; growth & development ; physiology ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo study the growth rules, the output and the influence factors of cultivated Phyllanthus urinaria, and provide basis for standardized cultivation.

METHODOrthogonally designed field experiments with three factors and three levels, comparing the characters of cultivated plants and the wild ones of P. urinaria.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONUnder the manual planter condition, the characters, such as branching number, single dry weight, single output etc, enhanced enormously, and the increase of single output reaches 3.27 times. The sowing time was the most sensitive factor, which affected the single character and the yield per unit of area, whereas the different levels of sowing thickness and fertilizer also remarkably influenced the output. When the seeds were sowed at the mid-April earlier period, drilling with the 20 cm row spacing, they started to emerge about 1 week later, the growth flush period was from June to August, the growth slowed down in September, and the output per hectare could reach to 5.750 kilograms at harvest in late October.

Fertilizers ; Phyllanthus ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Plants, Medicinal ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Seasons ; Seeds ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo establish the growth curve of Siraitia grosvenorii and analyze the correlation between seed and growth of fruit.

METHODThe growth curve fitting function was applied for the study of correlation between seed and fruit growth.

RESULTThe significant positive correlation existed between seed and horizontal diameter x vertical diameter, not between seed and flesh weight of single fruit.

CONCLUSIONThe growth curve is a reciprocal function, and seed is one of major factors to influencing the size of fruits and the shape of fruit.

Cucurbitaceae ; growth & development ; Fruit ; growth & development ; Seeds ; growth & development ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo study the optimum storage methods of Pinellia ternata from Sichuan.

METHODNine methods were used to overwintering storage of the seed-stem of P. ternata from Sichuan. The germination of seed-stem was observed through the following year after planting, then the germination percentage, vigor of germination and germination index were calculated. At the seedling stage, the physiological indexes like rooting number, root length, root activity, chlorophyll content and catalase activity etc. were determined.

RESULTUnder the different storage conditions, all the tested indexes of P. ternata from Sichuan were significantly different between each other (P < 0.05), except the chlorophyll content.

CONCLUSIONThe seed-stem of P. ternata from Sichuan should be preserved in the wet sand (or in soil) in a greenhouse or 4 degrees C refrigerator. Under these conditions, the germinating vigor and growth activity of seed-stem performed the best.

Agriculture ; methods ; Germination ; Pinellia ; growth & development ; physiology ; Plant Stems ; growth & development ; Seeds ; growth & development