改善冬瓜種子發芽力方法之研究

Studies on the Improvement of Germination Ability for Waxgourd (Benineasa hispida Cogn.) seeds

冬瓜鮮採種子經證實具有休眠性，其發芽率幾近於零，在室溫貯藏下，休眠程度隨貯藏時間增加而降低，種子發芽勢則隨著貯藏時間增加而增強，其休眠期間約為80天，此時發芽率達99.3%。鮮採種子利用硝酸鉀（0.4%）、激勃素（0.1%）、或5°C低溫前處理7天，均可打破休眠，其中以硝酸鉀的效果最佳，發芽率提高至85.5%。以紙上、紙中、砂上、砂內發芽法測定冬瓜種子，其間發芽率無顯著差異。在15至35°C之間，冬瓜種子發芽率隨著溫度昇高而提高，25°C以下的低溫情況對發芽不利。浸種24小時對於冬瓜種子發芽為已足夠，延長浸水時間對提高種子發芽率無助益。

The germination percentage of waxgourd (Benincasa hispida Cogn.) seed is near zero, which was demonstrated as dormancy. Dormant status was released gradually during storage at room temperature, and speed of germination was increased. The duration of dormancy was about 80 days, and germination percentage raised to 99.3% at that time. Dormancy of fresh seeds could be broken either by KNO3 (0.4 %) and GA (0.1%) presoaking treatments, or by 5°C pre-chilling treatment for 7 days. The best result was KNO3, which raised germination percentage to 85.5%. Temperature were tested for germination, and it appeared that between 15 °C and 35°C, the higher temperature the higher germination percentage. Mothods of germination test showed that top of paper, between papers, top of sand, and between sand were not significantly different. Seeds immersed for 24 hours was enough for germinating, and prolong immersion was not necessary.