Kadsura coccinea (Lem.) A.C. Smith is used as a medicinal plant and cosmetic material in China and Southeast Asia. To mass-produce Kadsura coccinea seedlings, the effects of gibberellic acid (GA3) and cold stratification treatments on seed germination were investigated. Seed germination rate with GA3 treatment was most effective at concentrations of 250 or 500 mg/L. With respect to mean germination time (MGT), mean daily germination, and T50 (days to reach 50% seed germination), the germination-promoting effect was improved as the concentration of GA3 increased. Stem growth of seedlings was the highest following GA3 treatments of 250 and 500 mg/L, and the growth promoting effect gradually decreased as the concentration of GA3 decreased. Root growth was stimulated at GA3 concentrations of 250–1,000 mg/L. Examination of the effect of stratification treatment for 15, 30 and 60 days at temperatures of 0, 5 and 10℃ on the germination rate revealed that the most stratification treatment temperature was 10℃, and the results improved with longer treatment periods. Altogether, GA3 and stratification treatments improved the seed germination rate, shortened the MGT, improved germination uniformity, and produced healthy seedlings.

Background: Dehisced ginseng seeds need to be stored at cold temperatures for around 3 months to break their physiological dormancy, and thus, to aid in gemination. In the presence of high moisture in such an environment, seed spoilage and pre-germination may lower seed quality and productivity. To improve seed quality during cold-stratification, the effects of seed dehydration and temperature were tested. Methods and Results: In early December, dehisced ginseng seeds were dehydrated at 4 different levels and stored at 2℃- 2℃, and –20℃ for 3 months. Germination was carried out on the filter papers moistened with distilled water; emergence of root, shoot, and seed spoilage were assessed. Seed viability was examined by the tetrazolium test. More than 90% of the seeds stored at 2℃ and –2 ℃ without drying or endocarp dehydration germinated, but seeds that were dehydrated to have a moisture content (MC) below 31% showed poor germination and lost their viability. In addition, the seeds stored at –20℃ failed to show effective germination. Conclusions: Seed storage after endocarp dehydration might help to improve seed quality and increase seedling's ability to stand during the spring-sowing of ginseng.

The influence of seed maturity, stratification, and seed washing method on seed germination were investigated for establishment of seed propagation system in dropwort (Oenanthe stolonifera DC). Seed germination rate was increased as period of the seed ripening increased, especially the seed over 40 days after flowering showed the highest germination rate. The optimum period of cold stratification treatment to promote seed germination was about 8 weeks. The seed treated by a cold wet stratification with sand exhibited higher germination rate compared to the seed treated by a cold wet stratification without sand. The stratified seeds that were stored in the ground having fluctuating temperature were improved up to 19%, while stratification stored under constant temperature(4℃) did not improve germination rate. In addition, 8 weeks of stratification period under fluctuating temperature in the ground was most effective. Sodium hypochlorite, vital oxide, and distilled water were used as chemicals to remove the germination inhibitor of seed coat. Water washing of seed coat after soaking in 0.5% sodium hypochlorite and 0.0005% vital oxide for three minutes and 60 minutes respectively could effectively remove the germination inhibitors in the seed coat.

Seeds of burcucumber were treated with accelerated aging, cold-stratification, and light quality illuminated during desiccation to enhance their germination and seedling emergence. The germination was increased by aging and cold-stratification although the latter treatment showed greater effectiveness than the former one. In the combined treatment of aging 6 days at 45~circC and cold-stratification, the germination was promoted under longer period of cold-stratification to reach nearly 100% in 3 week cold-stratification on the ninth day from sowing. In the sequentially combined treatment of aging, cold-stratification, and light quality during 24 hour desiccation at 35~circC , no-stratified seeds showed the highest rate in red light treatment but the lowest in far-red light. This implies that the phytochrome action run during the desiccation of imbibed seeds. The red light exposure during drying for the cold-stratified seeds after aging accelerated the germination even more than the dark treatment and germinated 100% on the next day of sowing. It is concluded that the sequential treatment of aging, cold-stratification, and red light illumination during desiccation can highly promote percentage and speed of burcucumber seed germination.

본 연구는 시호 종자를 파종했을 때 발아율이 낮고 발아 소요기간이 길어 입모확보가 문제점으로 대두되어 발아율을 향상시키고 단기(短期) 동시 발아시킬 방안을 모색하고자 시호 종자의 발아특성에 대하여 시험한 결과를 요약하면 다음과 같다. 1. 시호종자의 크기는 입경 2.0~3.0mm 범위이었으며, 평균입경은 삼도시호가 3.0mm 재래시호가 3.1mm이었다. 대립종자일수록 발아기간이 짧고 발아율이 높았다. 2. 시호 종자의 선종에 알맞는 비중은 1.05로 판단되었으며 비중선에 의해 70% 이상의 발아율을 기대할 수 있었다. 3. 시호 종자의 등숙기간은 최소 60일 이상되어야 하며 80일간의 저온 층적 처리에 의해 발아율은20% 이상 증가하였다.