Effect of Moisture Content on Melilotus suaveolens Seed Quality During Ultra-drying Storage

In order to enhance the seed storability and supply high-quality seeds for vegetation restoration in the arid and semi-arid regions in Northwest China, the effects of ultra-drying and accelerated aging on the physiological characterstics of Melilotus suaveolens seeds were studied. Melilotus suaveolens seeds were dried in a desiccator containing silica gel to 80, 53, 42, 33, 23 and 16g·kg<'-1> of moisture contents (MC), respectively. The parameters of the seed quality including germination energy (GE), germination percentage (GP), relative conductivity (RC), dehydrogenase activity (DA) and a-amylase activity (AA) were determined afier ultra-drying and accelerated aging. The results showed that ultra-dried seeds with 42 g,kg-1 of MC showed the minimum changes of GE and GP before and after seed aging. Moreover, ultra-dry seeds with 42 g·kg<'-1> of MC showed higher DA and AA, and lower RC than non-ultra-drying seeds. Therefore, ultra-drying to 42 g·kg<'-1> of MC was helpful for M. Suaveolens seed storage.