Effects of Different Sowing Densities and Seed Volatile Limonene on the Seed Germination of Panax notoginseng

PurposeTo study the effects of different sowing densities and the function of key compounds in the volatiles of Panax notoginseng seeds on the seed germination of P. notoginseng, so as to provide a scientific basis for reasonable sowing density of P. notoginseng production.

MethodWe analyzed the germination rates, survival rates, agronomic traits and yield of P. notoginseng under five different sowing densities which respectively were 400, 144, 100, 36 and 25 seeds/m². Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to analyze the volatile components and relative contents in P. notoginseng seeds, and to study the effect of the key compound limonene in the seed volatiles of P. notoginseng on the germination of P. notoginseng seeds.

ResultThe survival rate of P. notoginseng seeds at the sowing density of 144 seeds/m² was significantly higher than other treatments (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the fresh weight of shoot, dry weight of shoot, fresh weight of root and dry weight of root (P>0.05). The single plant dry weight under 100 and 144 seeds/m² were higher than those under other sowing densities but not significantly (P>0.05). The dominating sort of volatiles of P. notoginseng seeds was alkene (relative content 39.44%). Among them, limonene had the highest relative content, and could significantly promote the germination of P. notoginseng seeds at a concentration of 2 μL/L (P<0.05).

ConclusionLimonene in the seeds volatiles of P. notoginseng can promote the germination of P. notoginseng seeds within a certain concentration range, and the seedling survival rate is the highest under the sowing density of 144 seeds/m².