Abstract:

Ginkgo biloba shows great variabilities within species. From 1950's, its seed-purpose cultivar resources in China were investigated and collected, and the seed anatomical structure and morphological characters at different development stages were observed. According to the shape, length, width and thickness of ovule bracket and seed stone, as well as the characteristics of both sides and top of the stone, the seed stones of G. biloba have been divided into five types, I. e., long-stone, buddha-finger, horse-bell, mume-stone and round-stone types, and the main cultivars belonging to different types were also listed. The stone weight, the index of stone shape, and the contents of dry matter, amylose, amylopectin, starch, rough protein, soluble sugar and hydrocyanic acid in seed kernel were measured for each type, and the qualities of seed stone were appraised. These provided a foundation for the improvement and utilization of female plant resources in G. biloba.

Key words: Ginkgo biloba, Seed Stone, Shape and Structure, Quality, Type