Cephalotaxus sinensis seeds can’t germinate even in the appropriate environment. However, numerous studies have showed that cold stratification and gibberellin acid (GA) can break the seed dormancy and promote seed germination effectively. To investigate the effect of cold stratification and different concentrations of exogenous GA 3 on dormancy breaking in seeds of Cephalotaxus sinensis , we monitored germination rates and changes in soluble sugar, starch, amylase, soluble protein, free amino acid during cold stratification. The results showed that seeds stratified for 5 months germinated to 12.7%, while those disposed with 200, 400, 600 mg/L of GA 3 germinated to 29.2%, 21.7%, and 18.4%, respectively. Free amino acid content was enhanced significantly, whereas soluble sugar content decreased during 45 days and then increased constantly. Additionally, the main reserves such as starch, protein decreased significantly during cold stratification, and cold stratification induced increases in the activities of α -amylase, ( α + β )-amylase. The preliminary results show that the combination of GA 3 and cold stratification has better effect to break seed dormancy.
Nasreen, S., Yousaf, M., Mohmand, A.S. and Ashraf Mailk, M. (2012) Study of Seed Dormancy Mechanisms; Causes and Control. Asian Journal of Plant Sciences, 1, 210-212.
Olmez, Z., Temel, F., Gokturk, A. and Yahyaoglu, Z. (2007) Effects of Sulphuric Acid and Cold Stratification Pretreatments on Germination of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Seeds. Asian Journal of Plant Sciences, 6, 427-430. http://dx.doi.org/10.3923/ajps.2007.427.430
Yang, Q.H., Ye, W.H., Song, S.Q. and Yin, S.H. (2003) Summarization on Cause of Seed Dormancy and Dormancy Polymorphism. Acta Botanica Boreali-Occidentalia Sinica, 23, 837-843.
Baskin, J.M. and Baskin, C.C. (2004) A Classification System for Seed Dormancy. Seed Science Research, 14, 1-16. http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/SSR2003150
Stokes, P. (1965) Temperature and Seed Dormancy. In: Ruhland, W., Ed., Encyclopedia of Plant Physiology, Vol. 15, Part 2, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 746-803. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-50088-6_60
Lewak, St. (2011) Metabolic Control of Embryonic Dormancy in Apple Seed: Seven Decades of Research. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum, 33, 1-24. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11738-010-0524-8
Pei, D., Zhang, J.P., Shi, Y.S. and Xu, H.Z. (2002) Seed Germination and Seedling Growth Associated with Stratification Ways on Juglans nigra. Science Silvae Sinicae, 38, 73-77.
Wang, L., Wang, K.L., Liu, Q.C. and Liu, Q.H. (2010) Effects of Gibberellin and Lamitation Treatment on Seed Germination of Styrax japonicas. Acta Agriculturate Jiangxi, 22, 77-79.
Zhang, L.M., Zhang, Z.H., Liu, Y., Zhao, Q. and Yu, F.Y. (2015) The Biochemical and Physiological Changes of Euscaphis konoshii Hayata Seeds during the Period of Stratification. Seed, 34, 37-40.
Bewley, J.D., Bradford, K.J., Hilhorst, H.W.M. and Nonogaki, H. (2013) Seeds: Physiology of Development, Germination and Dormancy. 3rd Edition, Springer, New York. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4693-4
Chen, S.Y., Chou, S.H., Tsai, C.C., Hsu, W.Y., Baskin, C.C., Baskin, J.M., Chien, C.T. and Huang, L.L.K. (2015) Effects of Moist Cold Stratification on Germination, Plant Growth Regulators, Metabolites and Embryo Ultrastructure in Seeds of Acer morrisonense (Sapindaceae). Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 94, 165-173. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2015.06.004
Liu, X.J., Wang, D., Yu, D.L. and Liang, P. (2013) Introduction Performance and Breeding Technology of Cephalotaxus sinensis in Xiongyue Area. Northern Horticulture, 8, 85-87.
Zhou, X.J., Hu, Z.B., Huang, L.D. and Zhang, G.Y. (1997) Studies on Cephalotaxus Plants Resources over China. Journal of Hubei Agricultural College, 17, 100-103.
Bocar, M., Jossang, A. and Bodo, B. (2003) New Alkaloids from Cephalotaxus fortunei. Journal of Natural Products, 66, 152-154. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/np0203178
Saeed, M.K., Deng, Y.L. and Dai, R.J. (2008) Attenuation of Biochemical Parameters in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats by Oral Administration of Extracts and Fractions of Cephalotaxus sinensis. Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition, 42, 21-28. http://dx.doi.org/10.3164/jcbn.2008004
Hao, S.H., Wei, Y., Zhang, J. and Zhang, X. (2006) Herbicidal Activity of Twig and Needle Extracts from Cephalotaxus sinensis against Amaranthus retroflexus. Chinese Journal of Pesticide Science, 8, 91-94.
Pang, X.H. and Song, J.Y. (2010) Research Progress of Resources in Cephalotaxus mannii. Shanxi Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 119-121.
Li, H.S. (2001) Plant Physiological and Biochemical Principles and Techniques. Higher Education Press, Beijing, 169-172.
Al-Hawija, B.N., Partzsch, M. and Hensen, I. (2012) Effects of Temperature, Salinity and Cold Stratification on Seed Germination in Halophytes. Nordic Journal of Botany, 30, 627-634. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1756-1051.2012.01314.x
Cavieres, L.A. and Arroyo, M.T.K. (2000) Seed Germination Response to Cold Stratification Period and Thermal Regime in Phacelia secunda (Hydrophyllaceae). Plant Ecology, 149, 1-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1009802806674
Zhang, Y. and Wang, J.F. (2005) Effects of Gibberellin Treatment and Stratification on Seed Germination of Cerasus serrulata. Journal of Yangtze University, 2, 26-27.
Wang, G.Y. and Sun, Q. (2009) The Effects of Different Stratification Time and GA3 Treatment on the Germination of Peach Seed. Seed, 28, 90-92.
Zhang, L., Li, H.F., Zhang, D.Q. and Duan, B.Z. (2013) Synergistic Effect of Stratification and Gibberellic Acid on Breakage of Seed Dormancy of Paris polyphylla var. Yunnanensis. Chinese Pharmaceutical Journal, 48, 1719-1723.
Suda, C.N.K. and Giorgini, J.F. (2000) Seed Reserve Composition and Mobilization during Germination and Initial Seedling Development of Euphorbia heterophylla. Revista Brasileira de Fisiologia Vegetal, 12, 226-245. ttp://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0103-31312000000300006
Bray, C.M. (1995) Biochemical Processes during the Osmopriming of Seeds. In: Kigel, J. and Galilieds, G., Eds., Seed Development and Germination, Marcel Dekker Inc., Hong Kong, 767-789.
Ramakrishna, V. and Ramakrishna Rao, P. (2006) Effect of in Vivo Administered Plant Growth Hormones on the Development of Amylase and Protease during Germination of Indian Bean (Dolichos lablab L. var. Lignosus) Seeds. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum, 28, 245-250. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02706537
Wang, Y., Liu, G.L., Zhang, Q. and Chen, Y.L. (2013) Effects of Stratification Treatment on Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Paeonia decomposita Seed. Northern Horticulture, 59-62.
Liao, Y.J., Li, X. and Dong, X.H. (2010) Effect of Different Temperature Stratifications on Physiological and Biochemical Characteristic and Seed Embryos Development of Taxus cuspidata Sieb.et Zucc. Journal of China Agricultural University, 15, 39-44.
Chen, S.S. (2007) Study on Dormancy Characteristics and Germination Physiology of Spuriopimpinella brachyara (Kom.) Kitag. Seed. Jilin Agricultural University, Jilin, 50-60.
Wang, J.Y. and Fang, S.Z. (2007) Storage Substance Content and Corresponding Enzyme Activity during the Stratification of Cyclocarya paliurus Seeds. Journal of Nanjing Forestry University, 31, 111-113.
Dawidowicz-Gizegoizewska, A. (1989) Degradation of Protein and Lipd Bodies during Dormancy Removal in Apple Seeds. Journal of Plant Physiology, 135, 43-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0176-1617(89)80222-6
Yang, X.L., Guo, S.H., Zhang, J.W., Liu, Y.F., Wang, C., Li, Z. and Wang, H.F. (2009) Effects of Stratification and Hormone Treatments on Physiological and Biochemical Indexes of Hawthorn Seed. Nonwood Forest Research, 27, 76-79.
Zhang, C.C., Nian, H.H., Li, S.Q., Xie, Z.H. and Xiong, Y.K. (2012) Study on Physiological Changes of Break Dormancy of Taxus mairei (Lemee et LevI.) S.Y.Hu ex Liu Seed. China Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, 27, 2723-2726.
Gao, W.Y., Li, Z.L. and Xiao, P.G. (1997) Study on Metabolism in Arctium lappa L. at the Primary Stage of Germination. China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica, 23, 594-595.
Huang, R.Z., Guo, X.Q., Fang, X.T. and Li, Y.L. (2006) Effects of Cold-Warm-Cold Stratification Treatment on Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Taxus chinensis var. Mairei Seeds. Journal of Fujian Normal University, 22, 95-98.