Abstract:

In order to reveal the induction mechanism of chemical substances in the seed germination and haustorium formation of Cistanche deserticola, we investigated the seed germination rate of C. deserticola treated with plant hormone and the haustorium formation percentage treated with chemical inductive substances by using the method of the orthogonal experiment design and the tissue culture technique. Results showed that NAA and 6BA did not induce the seed germination. However, 2.9 μmol·L^-1 and 5.8 μmol·L^-1 GA-3 was able to induce the germination and germ tube formation,though the germination percentage was only 3.3%～4.7%. When treated with 2.9 μmol·L^-1 NAA +5.8 μmol·L^-1 GA-3 +14 μmol·L^-1 6BA, the germination percentage was 4.2 times higher than the single hormone treatments, however the germ tube did not form haustorium in this treatment. DMBQ, RS and FA were effective chemical inductive substances in the haustorium formation, and the haustorium formation percentage was only 16.7%. Interestingly, the combination of DMBQ and FA or RS displayed a synergism, and promoted the haustorium formation percentage up to 100%. GA-3 was an essential plant hormone which induced the seed germination of C. deserticola, and the further need the specific phenolic and quinone substances which induced the haustorium development in terms of their chemical composition.

Key words: seed of Cistanche deserticola, germination, haustorium, chemical induction