Studies On Rules For Seed Testing And Standards For Quality Grading Of Glycyrrhiza Uralensis, Salvia Miltiorrhiza And Achyranthes Bidentata Seeds

Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch, Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. and Achyranthes bidentata Blume, which propagate with seed, are the traditional Chinese medicine used widely and largely. To date, there are not the rules for seed testing and standards for quality grading for the three medicinal plants. Referring to the International Seed Testing Rules made by ISTA and the Seed Testing for Crops (GB/T3543.1~1995) issued by China, considering the real situation of G. uralensis , S. miltiorrhiza and, A. bidentata cultivation and seed producing, several aspects were addressed about the three plant seed including sampling , the purity analysis, weight determination, determination of moisture content, verification of species, the germination test, test for viability and seed health testing. After above research the methods for every species seed testing have been found out. Based on these methods the rules for every species seed testing was established. According to the rules established, the G. uralensis, S. miltiorrhiza and, A. bidentata seed samples widely collected from major producing areas were tested and the results were analyzed by statistical methods. By K-means cluster the four items, the percentage of seed germination, the weight of 1000 seeds, the purity of seed lot and the moisture content of seeds, which mostly represented the quality of seed were selected as the main standards for seed quality grading. With the standards the quality grading of three species were made and such work lay down sound foundation for the G. uralensis, S. miltiorrhiza and A.s bidentata seed standardization.