A Study on the Dormant Physiology of Acer truncatum Seeds

Dormancy is one of the characteristics of Acer truncatum seeds. During the dormant period, pericarp and seed coat played an important and manifold role. Before the state of dormancy was over, the undamaged perfect seeds had to be kept under a condition of low temperature (2-5℃), and a stratification for 40~50 days. Under the condition of 25℃, the seeds after removing mulch could germinate without pre-treatment. Seed mulch has inhibitiry effect on oxygen absorption of seed embryo and limits the swelling of embryo physically and mechanically, and hinders the spread of inhitor to seed germination. During the process of stratification treatment, with the continuous increase of nutritive substance in embryo, the resistance of seeds to inhibitors increased uninterruptedly. Eventually the seeds overcame the inhibition form outer tissue and germinated.