Research on germination of Tibet Kobresia from different altitudes

Kobresia has poor germination condition under natural environment. Potassium nitrate solution, sulphuric acid, sodium hydroxide solution and warm water were used to treat five species of Kobresia (K.setchwanensis, K.royleana, K.littledalei, K.capillifolia and K.pygmaea) seeds from different altitudes in this study. The results revealed that differences among cultivars and four treatments have significant impacts on germination potential, germination rate, shoot length and root length, and the effect of various cultivars on germination potential and germination rate was great. The best method of increasing shoot length for K.setchwanensis and K.littledalei is to immerse seeds in 40% sodium hydroxide solution. Under this treatiment the germination rate of those twoo grass are 98.00% and 73.33% respectively, and the latter reached a significant level compared with controlled trails. All the five cultivars of Kobresia shoot length reach highest with treatments of sodium hydroxide solution, which are more than 13.00 mm. Potassium nitrate solution, sulphuric acid and warm water also have implications for five cultivars of Kobresia.