Hard Seed Characteristics and Seed Vigor of Ormosia hosiei.

The Ormosia hosiei is a secondary protected wild plant in China, and its seed has a hardness rate of 86%. To explore the characteristics of the hard seed and the difference in seed vigor between hard seeds and the non-hard seeds of O. hosiei, the water absorption characteristics, germination characteristics, seed coat structure, seed coat permeability, enzyme activity, and main biochemical substances of the O. hosiei seeds were determined. The results showed that the hard and dense seed coat is the main obstacle to absorbing water of O. hosiei seeds; the main reason is that the seed coat is composed of cuticle, palisade cells, and thick-walled cells with impermeability. Hot water treatment can soften the seed coat and remove wax and grease from the seed coat, and concentrated sulfuric acid treatment can corrode the local seed coat and break the barrier of cuticle and palisade tissue. The effectiveness of concentrated sulfuric acid to break the dormancy of O. hosiei hard seeds is better than that of hot water treatment, but the damage to the seed coat is larger and irreversible. The germination, germination index, root activity, TTCH content, and SOD activity of the hard seeds were higher than those of the non-hard seeds, but the SSC, conductivity value, and MDA content were lower than those of the non-hard seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]