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

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

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

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

Bupleurum chinense used in the study were cultivated in the experimental fields of Gansu agricultural University for three years. The seeds of B. chinense were collected every 3 days 10 d after the blossom. The result showed that the 1 000-grain fresh weight reached the maximum 43 d after the blossom and then decreased rapidly, at the mature period the fresh weight of seeds were falling to the same level of the dry weight. The dynamic change of the grain dry matter accumulation showed as an S-shape curve, the rapid increase stage was 25-34 d following the flower, and the grain filling was ended 46 d after blossom. Grain filling rate was under the law "fast-slow-fast-slow". And there were two peaks of grain filling rate appeared, after reached the second peak 28 d after the flower the filling rate decreased rapidly and stayed steadily 43 d after flowering. The dehydration rate was also measured at its maximum 43 d following flower. The indexes of seeds all reached the top 52 days following the blossom, when the germination rate reached the peak (34.33%) and water content of seeds was near 10%. The rate of germination and the 1 000-graid weight of seed showed significant positive correlation, while the water content of seeds was found significant negatively correlation with germination percentage. So the best time for harvest should be 52 d after flowering (9 month), the seeds collected at that time showed both high quality and germination rate.
Bupleurum ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Flowers ; growth & development ; Germination ; Seeds ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Water ; analysis

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

OBJECTIVETo reveal the flowering characteristics of Panax stipuleanatus and provide theoretical basis for distant hybridization between P. stipuleanatus and P. notoginseng.

METHODDuring the blossom of P. stipuleanatus, we observed and investigated blooming phenophase, growth dynamics of inflorescence, pollination and seed setting of its population and the flowering process and its period, the regularity of flowering and pollinating of the floret. Statistic analyses were carried out.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe population florescence of P. stipuleanatus was about 60 d. The average florets quality of umbel was 44-47. The average natural pollination rates were 73.32%-95.39%. The average seed setting rates was 35.65%-51.76%. The highest growth periods of inflorescence are from March 25 to April 4. The diameter, the height and the length of its inflorescence in 10 d increased 44.65%, 42.19% and 106.25%, respectively. The whole stereotype period was the May beginning. The time that the floret from petal opening to withering it generally needed 36-48 h, 60 percent of the floret finished auther pollinating during the same day and 40 percent until the next day. The flowering and pollinating peak periods were 14:00-15:00, the flowering numbers was 28.48% of the total flowering amount and the pollinating numbers were 38.63% of the total pollinating amount. The high temperature (20-30 degrees C) and the low humidity (RH < 60%) were beneficial to flowering and pollinating.

Flowers ; growth & development ; physiology ; Inflorescence ; growth & development ; physiology ; Panax ; growth & development ; physiology ; Pollination ; Seeds ; physiology

Current study was carried out to optimize the priming condition of Oldenlandia diffusa seeds, and improve germination rate and seed vigor of 0. diffusa seeds under drought conditions. Uniform design was used to optimize the concentration and priming time of three priming materials (PEG, KNO3, GA3). Different concentrations of polyethylene glycol (PEG) was used to simulate drought stress. The seedling was cultured in 1/4 Hoagland medium for 30 d. The results showed that seed priming treatment with 366 mg x kg(-1) GA3 for 1h resulted in significant increase in germination rate, germination index, vigor, root length, plant height and biomass of O. diffusa seeds under drought stress (15% PEG), while seed priming with 3.0% KNO3 for 1 h showed little effect on germination and growth of O. diffusa seeds under drought stress. Seed priming treatment with appropriate GA3 concentration and priming time could enhance seed germination and drought resistance of O. diffusa in seedling stage.
Droughts ; Germination ; Oldenlandia ; growth & development ; physiology ; Seedlings ; growth & development ; physiology ; Seeds ; growth & development ; physiology ; Stress, Physiological