A study on seed characteristics of Lotus japonicus at maturity stage

The study analyzed maturated seed characteristics of Lotus japonicus. The results indicated that L. japonicus seeds matured at different time with splitting sharply. Under normal production circumstance, the seed loss was serious and quality of seed was not good. The yield and quality of seeds were affected by split numbers and matured pod numbers. The harvest of L. japonicus seeds should be at the stage with the lowest split and the highest matured pod number. The seeds harvested at this stage should not only have higher yield, higher numbers of filled seeds, heavier 1 000 seed weight and sufficient nutrients, but also have higher sprout ability, germinating potential, and germination percentage and vigor index as well.