Effect of sheep digestion on morphology, recovery and germinability of four Leguminous plants seed

Seeds were collected from four Leguminous plant species (Sophora alopecuroide, Vicia tenuifolia, Glycyrrhizae glabrae, Medicago romanica) and fed to sheep, then recorded the seeds recovery rates and mean retention time after digestion. Determined the morphological and biological characteristics and germinability of seeds before and after digestion. The results showed that many seeds were excreted from sheep digestive tract, and excretion dynamic all fitted Gaussian model, excretion peak of S. alopecuroide, V. tenuifolia, G. glabrae appeared 24~36 h after digestion, but that of M. romanica appeared 18~30 h after digestion. Total recovery rate from feces of four plants species seeds was 14.513%(S. alopecuroide), 4.463%(V. tenuifolia), 10.811%(G. Glabrae), 4.608% (M. romanica), respectively. Mean retention time of S. alopecuroide, V. tenuifolia, G. glabrae and M. romanica was 36.3, 29.6, 31.2, 31.9 h, respectively. Seed weight decreased significantly (P<0.05) after digestion except for S. alopecuroide, seed shape index of all species decreased. The color of seed coat was deepened, seed surface texture was indistinct, and appeared wrinkles and obvious erosion after digested obviously. The germination rates of seed increased after digestion and the highest germination rate appeared in 24~48 h after digestion. Gastrointestinal tract of sheep can break hard seeds and provide a good pathway for seed dispersal.