How can the germination rate of Polygonatum seeds be improved?

Polygonatum is one of the major bulk medicinal herbs in China, and with the increasing market demand for it and the decrease in wild resources, wild Polygonatum can no longer meet market demand by a long shot, so artificial cultivation of Polygonatum is gradually being carried out. However, the seed propagation currently used has the problems of a long growth cycle and low seed germination, so is there any way to improve the germination rate of Polygonatum seeds? Let's take a look.

1. Seed collection and storage

In late October, collect ripe Polygonatum fruits, take out the seeds and select those with high plumpness, no pests or diseases, and a diameter of 0.25 cm or more. Mix the seeds and wet sand evenly at a ratio of 1:3.5; the moisture of the wet sand should be such that it forms a ball when held in the hand and crumbles when touched. Then dig a pit in a sheltered place and bury the seed and wet sand mixture. When storing, the pit must be 35 cm deep, and there must be an isolation layer at the bottom of the pit, which can prevent the seeds from germinating during storage. You can lay a 3 cm thick layer of vermiculite at the bottom of the pit, then lay a 4 cm layer of sand on top of it, and then use castor leaves, Tripterygium wilfordii leaves, Tripterygium wilfordii bark, waste and inferior tobacco leaves, and goji leaves to lay a 5 cm thick plant layer on the sand layer.

2. Seed germination promotion

When preparing to sow, first take out the stored mixture, first use mechanical grinding to crack the shells, then put the polished seeds and sand mixture together into a foam box. Keep the appropriate humidity at about 78% and the temperature controlled at about 4 degrees, cultivate for 4 hours, then adjust the temperature to 12 degrees and cultivate for 12 hours, then adjust to 20 degrees and cultivate for 8 hours, and finally adjust the temperature to 30 degrees and cultivate for 12 hours. After this alternating-temperature germination promotion, the seeds can be sown.

3. Raising seedlings

Before sowing, a seedling substrate can be prepared with a ratio of 5 parts humus soil, 2 parts river sand, and 2 parts coconut coir, then broadcast the germinated seeds on the seedling substrate. During cultivation, control the temperature at about 28 degrees and the humidity at about 85%, and also set up a shade shed to provide shade. Pull weeds every 10 days, and sprouts will emerge soon after.

  The above is an introduction to how to improve the germination rate of Polygonatum seeds. I hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please follow us.