Investigations were conducted into the imbibition rates of seeds, changes of seed viability after harvest, and the effects of specific gravity of seeds and high temperature treatment on germination to shorten the period of germination after seeding. ...
Investigations were conducted into the imbibition rates of seeds, changes of seed viability after harvest, and the effects of specific gravity of seeds and high temperature treatment on germination to shorten the period of germination after seeding. Tire results are summarized as follows: 1. The lipid content of Dystaenia takesimana was 28.65% which was much higher than that of alfalfa or orchardgrass. 2. With KOH scarification imbibition rate was increased by more than two times and the optimum temperature was 20℃. 3. The percent germination was reduced gradually after harvest and rapidly after 45 days getting zero after one year. 4. The percent germination was increased by increase of the specific gravity of seeds and breeding heavier and larger seeds to improve seedling growth is suggested. 5. With high temperature treatment of the seeds at 40℃ in pregermination, the percent germination was increased from 44.3 to 91.1%. 6. It would appear that the slow germination of Dystaenia takesianana may be due to poor mobilization of seed reserves, an innate character of the seed.