Arid Zone Research ›› 2025, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (7): 1291-1300.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2025.07.12

• Plant Ecology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of storage methods on the seed germination and viability of Ammopiptanthus nanus with different colors

LIN Zhiye1(), WANG Jiancheng2, ZHU Chenglin1, SU Zhihao1()   

  1. 1. Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Special Species Conservation and Regulatory Biology, College of Life Science, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi 830017, Xinjiang, China
    2. Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, Xinjiang, China
  • Received:2025-01-06 Revised:2025-04-08 Online:2025-07-15 Published:2025-07-07
  • Contact: SU Zhihao E-mail:19865096765@163.com;suzh@xjnu.edu.cn

Abstract:

Ammopiptanthus nanus is an endangered evergreen shrub that is endemic to the desert area of Central Asia. It exhibits strong cold and drought resistance, serves as a model species for examining the mechanisms of plant adaptation to extreme environments, and is a focus of conservation research in desert biodiversity. In this study, black and green Ammopiptanthus nanus seeds were used to study the germination and viability of newly harvested seeds and their storage by three methods. The results indicated that the germination rate of the newly harvested seeds increased with an increase in temperature, and the viability of the newly harvested seeds reached 100%. There was a significant difference in the germination of seeds with the two colors under dry-cold and -hot storage conditions, with green seeds showing significantly higher germination rates compared with black seeds (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in germination under wet-cold storage conditions. Wet-cold storage promoted seed germination, whereas dry-cold and -hot storage resulted in inhibition. The three storage methods had little effect on the viability of either color seed, and viability after storage was >95%. Temperature and humidity are important ecological factors that influence seed germination and viability in Ammopiptanthus nanus. The difference in seed germination represents a strategy for adapting to harsh habitats, which is conducive to increasing its survival and reproduction ability. Wet-cold storage increases the seed germination rate and maintains viability, thus providing valuable technical guidance for the conservation of germplasm resources and nursery breeding.

Key words: Ammopiptanthus nanus, seed germination, seed viability, storage method