Seed Storage and Germination Characteristics of Lagerstroemia balansae in Hainan Island

Key words: 
• Lagerstroemia balansae /
• seed vigor /
• plant growth regulator /
• germination potential /
• physiological ripening

Abstract: Lagerstroemia balansae produces a large number of seeds in the wild but its ornamental utilization was hindered due to low rate of seed germination. The seeds collected were stored and germinated with plant growth regulators to observe their storage and germination. The seeds were found to have good water permeability but had a phenomenon of physiological ripening. L. balansae seeds should not be sown immediately after harvest.They needed a short-term storage at a low temperature of 4 ℃,and their best shelf life was 6 to 8 months. The seeds can be dry stored for a long time at an ambient temperature. They tended to have certain physiological dormancy. GA₃ and IAA could effectively break its physiological dormancy. The seeds treated with GA₃ at a rate of 200 mg·L^-1had higher germination rates and their seedlings grew better,followed by the seeds treated with IAA treatment at a rate of 200 mg·L^-1. 6- BA had no effect on germination of the seeds.