Research on the behavior differences in seed germination of Cenchrus pauciflorus

In order to understand the behavior differences in germination of two seeds, grown in a single thorn wrap, of Cenchrus pauciflorus under same conditions, the germination rates of complete seeds, seeds with glumes, bare seeds were measured. The germination rate of complete seeds in dry conditions and the waterabsorbing rate of different packaging seeds, the germinating order of big and small seeds in the single thorn wrap were also tested. Results from the study showed that two seeds in the most single thorn wrap could germinate under suitable condition, and the big seeds germinated earlier than the small seeds, while the germination rates of big seeds and small seeds were 85.00% and 59.64%, respectively. Under the same conditions, the germination rate of the two sorts of naked seeds was same, 88.13%. The germination rate of the big seeds was almost not affected by the condition of watersupplying insufficiency, but the small seeds could germinate hardly. The rate of waterabsorption showed that waterabsorbing ability of the big seeds was stronger than that of the small seeds under different package (complete seeds or seeds with glumes). The difference of seed germination between the big and the small seeds was mainly caused by limited waterabsorption.