ABSTRACT
Objective::To study the correlation between endogenous hormone content, related enzyme activity and embryogenesis during the stratification of Acanthopanax senticosus seeds, and to provide theoretical basis for application of endogenous hormones and related physiological indicators in regulating germination of A. senticosus seeds in production and scientific research. Method::Endophytic fungi as well as different concentrations of nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide solution were used for soaking the seeds of A. senticosus, and then thermophilic stratification was conducted for the seeds. The content of endogenous hormones such as gibberellin (GA3), abscisic acid (ABA), indole acetic acid (IAA), indole butyric acid (IBA) and salicylic acid (SA) in seeds of A. senticosus were tested by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the activity change of enzymes in vivo such as catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were tested. The correlation between the embryo rate and the hormones and their enzyme activities in the seeds of A. senticosus was studied by the grey correlation method. Result::The embryo rate was significantly positively correlated with IAA, GA3, and CAT, with correlation coefficient of 1.086, 0.935 and 1.067, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between IAA, GA3, CAT, IBA, and SA, but with a significant negative correlation with ABA, MDA, and POD. The correlation degree was as follows: IAA>CAT>GA3>IBA>SA>SOD>ABA>POD>MDA. Conclusion::IAA, GA3 and CAT have significant promoting effects on embryo rate, and there is a significant correlation between hormone content and enzyme activity, which provides a basis for exploring the seed germination mechanism of A. senticosus.