Studies On Fruit Development And Seed After-ripening Characteristics Of Panax Notoginseng

Panax notoginseng (Burk) F.H.Chen is one of the most famous Chinese traditional medicinal plants, which belongs to Panax genus under Araliaceae family. Based on the dynamic studies of physiological and biochemical characteristics during Wenshan P. notoginseng fruit development and seed after-ripening period, some basic referenced information obtained have established a valuable base for the further researches of P. notoginseng's germplasm conservation and breeding. The storage behavior of P. notoginseng seed has been determined through the test on its tolerant abilities to dryness and low temperature.The dynamic studies were carried out on the physiological and biochemical changes of P. notoginseng's fruit development. The results showed that the fruit moisture content was increased first, then decreased and finally dropped to 73.37% at maturity. The fresh and dry weight, starch and protein contents of P. notoginseng's fruits were increased gradually with the fruit development. The soluble sugar content was raised first, then decreased and increased slightly at the lateral stage of fruit development. The P. notoginseng's fruits were mature at 80 days after peak anthesis; the decrease of moisture content was companied with the gradual increase of fruit fresh and dry weight during the fruit development. The storage and utilization of nutrients in P. notoginseng's fruits were closely related with the fruit development.To extend the storage life of P. notoginseng seeds, improve and keep the seeds viability, the dynamic changes of seed viability, moisture content, respiratory rate, inclusions and enzyme activities were studied during P. notoginseng seeds post-maturation under different store conditions. All the tested indexes demonstrated a gradual declining trend as the extension of storage time. Except POD activities, all the tested indexes were correlated positively with the seed viability. All these physiological and biochemical changes are the important reasons to cause or accelerate seed aging and deterioration and...