Effects of Different Treatments on Seed Germination of Salvia miltiorrhiza

To study the effects of different treatments on the germination characteristics of Salvia miltiorrhiza seed, Salvia miltiorrhiza seeds were treated by fludioxonil and carbendazim, and were studied with different thickness of covering soil. The results showed that with the increase of soil cover thickness, the germination rate of Salvia miltiorrhiza seeds significantly decreased. The thickness of covering soil was  0 cm, the germination of Salvia miltiorrhiza seeds was the best and the germination rate was 42.08%. When the thickness of covering soil was 1.0 cm, the germination rate of Salvia miltiorrhiza seeds significantly decreased, only 2.91%, which was 93.08% lower than the control. The appropriate concentration of seed coating agent can improve the germination rate of Salvia miltiorrhiza seeds. When the soil thickness was 0 cm+1.25 g∙L-1 fludioxonil, the best germination effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza seeds was observed, and the germination rate was 59.17%, which increased 40.61% compared to 0 cm soil alone. The germination rate of Salvia miltiorrhiza seeds treated with 0 cm+2.5 g∙L-1 fludioxonil was only 13.75%, which was 28.33% lower than the germinationg rate with the soil thickness of 0 cm alone. There was no significant difference in the germination rate of Salvia miltiorrhiza seeds treated with 0.05% carbendazim compared with the control group; The germination rate of Salvia miltiorrhiza seeds treated with 0.1% carbendazim was significantly lower than that of the control group covered with 0 cm soil alone. In summary, The best germination level of Salvia miltiorrhiza seed was the cover thickness of 0 cm soil and 1.25 g ∙ L-1 concentration of  fludioxonil, ( 0 cm+1.25 g∙L-1). The treatment of seeds with 2.5 g∙L-1 concentration of chloramphenicol showed a significant inhibitory effect on the germination of Salvia miltiorrhiza seeds. In conclusion, Salvia miltiorrhiza seeds treated with 1.25 g∙L-1 concentration of fludioxonil and 0 cm covered soil, the germination rate, germination potential, and germination index are 59.17%, 51.67%, and 14.27, respectively, which increased by 40.61%, 61.07%, 77.28% compared with the soil of 0 cm alone.  It is suggested that breeding of Salvia miltiorrhiza seeds should be carried out on land with the appropriate concentration of fludioxonil.