Yoshizo Kaneki

Studies on the Germination of Seeds of Bupleurum falcatum L. : I. Influence of the time elapse after seed harvesting and light conditions on the germination

The root of Bupleurum falcatum L., Bupleuri Radix, is so important a crude drug that it is used in almost all the prescriptions of Chinese drugs, being listed in the Japanese pharmacopoeia VIII-2. The quality, however, of the crude drug produced in Japan is excellent and the production is only a little. Hence a large portion is imported from China, an increased domestic production being much required. As yet few fundamental investigations have been made on the cultivation of this plant. The seeds require a long time for germination to take place and the germination itself is unstable and irregular. This is one of the main difficulties in the practical cultivation. The present studies were undertaken with a view to elucidating this characteristics of germination and to establishing the methods of hastening of germination and of storage, being conducted during a period from 1969 to 1973. In part I, the results of experiments, carried out in 1969 and 1970, on the influence of the time elapse after seed harvest and light conditions on the germination are reported. 1. Observations of the seed germination during one year from fresh seed harvest at intervals of one month showed that there was no great difference in germination percentages between plots from fresh seed harvest (M0) to four months after seed harvest (M4), the highest being five months after seed harvest (M5) (Table 1). 2. During a period of six months from M0 to M6, germination percentages were heightened in the presence of light, the seeds being confirmed to be a light germinator. 3. Regarding the mean necessary time (days) for germination, the plot of M0 was the longest (30.74 days), there being no great difference in those from M1 to M5 (26.50-28.93 days) (Table 2). 4. The embryo size of the freshly harvested seeds (M0) was the smallest (embryo rate, 5.10%), attaining to the largest five months after seed harvest (M5, embryo rate, 16.69%) (Table 3). 5. From the foregoing, it has been clearly demonstraied that the characteristits of germination of Bupleurum falcatum L. is due to the after-ripening of the seeds, i.e., the embryo at the time of fresh seed harvest is yet immature and underdeveloped morphologically.

Studies on the Utilization of Bentonite on Crop Cultivation : (1) On the Growth of Crops supplied with Bentonite : (2) On the Swelling of Bentonito affected by Solutions of Different Commercial Fertilizers.

From the results of experiment, it may be concluded that the effect of Bentonite on the growth and yield of crop varies with the menthods of applying to the soil. Also it may be presumed that the action of Bentonite depends on both its base exchange capacity and the density and kind of fertilizers used.