ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The studies were carried out on the physiologic characteristics of Panax notoginseng seeds during the after--ripening process in order to understand the seed's biochemical and physiological changes and lay the foundation for the germplasm conversation and breeding research of P. notoginseng seeds.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Dynamic changes of storage material contents, respiratory rate and protective enzymatic activity were determined by normal biochemical and physiological measuring methods.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The respiratory rate increased continuously during the stratification process, the contents of starch, soluble protein, crude fat decreased and the content of water-soluble saccharide increased with the embryo development, activities of CAT, POD and SOD increased with the raise of MDA content.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>P. notoginseng seed's biochemical and physiological changes interacted with its embryo morphological changes to complete its after-ripening development.</p>
