Effects of PEG on Glycyrrhiza uralensis seeds germination and seedling growth

Effects of drought stress simulated by polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000) on Glycyrrhiza uralensis seed germination and seeding growth were analyzed. The results showed that the pretreatment of concentrated sulfuric acid significantly improved the germination rate. PEG stress delayed the germination of G.uralensis seeds. The vigor index of seeds with 5%~10% of PEG concentration treatment was higher than that of control treatment, however, the seed germination were inhibited significantly (P0.05) with higher PEG concentration treatments. PEG stress improved the root length of G.uralensis. For the aboveground part, the lower concentration of PEG had promoting effects while higher concentration of PEG had significantly inhibiting effects. There is significantly negative correlation between PEG concentration and GR(Germination Rate), GP(Germination Potential), GI(Germination Index) and the relation models between PEG concentration and GR, GI were established.