Abstract: In this paper, the effects of different storage conditions on the germination of [WTBX]Leymus racemosus[WTBZ] seeds were studied manipulatively both in field and laboratory. The results showed that the seed germination was increased initially and then decreased slowly as the increase of dry storage time and the buried time in topsoil, which revealed that there was an afterripening in this species. The natural germination rates of the seeds buried in 5cm depth in topsoil for 2, 7 and 8 months were 5.15%, 7.52% and 94% respectively. The percentage of ungerminated seeds under natural conditions could be >95% in laboratory. There was no germination after the seeds were buried in natural habitat for 2 months, and the germination rate was as high as 90% after the seeds were buried for 8 months; thus, it could be considered that the seeds in soil formed a transient seed bank. Germination rate of [WTBX]L. racemosus[WTBZ] seeds was increased under darkness. Moisture content of seeds under different storage conditions was in an order of seeds buried at 5cm depth >seeds buried in topsoil >dry storage in laboratory, and the minimum moisture content of seeds was 19.5%. In the natural habitat, the proportion of seeds removed by animals varied in a range of 12%-90% (44.5% in average), as a result, the number of seeds in soil was sharply decreased. Seedlings of [WTBX]L. racemosus[WTBZ] in the natural habitat may die in short period under drought, so the renewal of sexual reproduction of [WTBX]L. racemosus[WTBZ] was low in the natural habitat.  

Key words: font-size: 10.5pt, mso-bidi-font-family: 宋体, mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt, mso-ansi-language: EN-US, mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN, Leymus racemosus;[WTBZ] seed germination')">mso-bidi-language: AR-SA" lang="EN-US">Leymus racemosus;[WTBZ] seed germination, storage time, storage conditions, illumination, moisture content