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Effects of storage condition on the seed germination of four Solanaceae species in Hexi Corridor, China.

WANG Ju-hong1,3, CHEN Wen2**, MA Rui-jun1   

  1. (1Department of Biology, Hanshan Normal University, Chaozhou 521041, Guangdong, China; 2Department of Geography and Tourism Management, Hanshan Normal University, Chaozhou 521041, Guangdong, China; 3Key Laboratory of Resources Utilization of Gansu Universities, Hexi University, Zhangye 734000, Gansu, China)
  • Online:2013-07-10 Published:2013-07-10

Abstract: The storage condition of plant seeds after their dispersal is critical to the seed germination.  This paper studied the effects of four storage conditions (dry-stored at room temperature, and placed on litter, covered with litter, and covered with soil in winter) on the seed germination of four Solanaceae species (Lycium ruthenicumr, L. barbarum var. auranticarpum, Solanum alatum, and Darura stramonium) in Hexi Corridor, aimed to better understand the seed germination characteristics of these species and how these species adapting to their habitats. Covering seeds with soil (1 cm) and litter in winter could significantly increase the germination percentage of L. ruthenicumr and L. barbarum var. auranticarpum seeds up to 96.5% and 75.5%, and 65.3% and 53.7%, respectively, and accelerate the germination. In the meantime, the nongerminated seeds of L. ruthenicumr and L. barbarum var. auranticarpum could still keep higher viability. Placing on litter in winter and dry-storing at room temperature could increase the germination percentage of L. ruthenicumr seeds by 57.5%, while the non-germinated seeds could loss their viability by 47.5% and 31%, respectively. Placing on litter in winter made the germination percentage of L. barbarum var. auranticarpum seeds being 39.3%, and partial non-germinated seeds (38%) lost their viability. After stored under the four storage conditions, the germination percentage of S. alatum seeds was more than 90% while that of D. stramonium seeds was less than 10%, but the non-germinated seeds of D. stramonium still kept 50.5%-81.5% viability. Both L. ruthenicumr and L. barbarum var. auranticarpum displayed the consistency in the responses of seed germination to various storage conditions, i.e., the seeds of the two species under soil and litter cover in winter had a significantly higher germination percentage, the germination was accelerated, and the germination duration was shortened, as compared with those under placed on litter in winter or drystored at room temperature, which indicated that covering seeds with soil and litter in winter could break the dominancy of L. ruthenicumr and L. barbarum var. auranticarpum seeds and keep their viability, whereas the colddry environment in winter could make some seeds lost their viability, being unfavorable for the establishment and natural regeneration of population. The demand of seed germination to cold-wet environment reflected the natural mechanisms of reproducing race of temperate plants, which ensured the maximization of seedling survival and population establishment.

Key words: composting, maturity, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR)., manure