Physiological and Biochemical Changes During Embryo After-Ripening of American Ginseng(Panax quinquefolius)and Effect of Hormones on Such Changes / 中草药

ABSTRACT

In natural condition, two years were needed for Panax quinquefolius seeds to break dormancy. In the first year, the embryo developed slowly, and the activities of amylase and peroxidase were low. In the second year the embryo developed rapidly, and the activities of both enzymes also increased gradually. But with the treatment of hormones enzymatic activ ities accelarated remarkably and speeded up the decomposition of stored nutrients in endos perm, so that starch and non-reducing sugar decreased while reducing sugar incrcased rapidly, resulting in earlier germination.