Effects of glycerol on seed vigor of Angelica dahurica under cryopreservation

The effects of glycerol treatment on seed vigor of Angelica dahurica under cryopreservation was investigated. The same amount of seeds were mixed with glycerol in different volume ratio and placed in the freezing tube. Then，the mixture was thawed at room temperature for 24 hours after storing one week under cryopreservation. The germination ability，conductivity，peroxidase（ POD） activity and soluble protein content of seed were determined. The results showed that：glycerol had some positive effects on improving seed vigor，and the best effect was the treatment with 10% glycerol，in which the seed germination potentiality，germination index，vigor index were significantly enhanced. In the process of seed cryopreservation，glycerol could reduce seed conductivity，increase soluble protein content and POD activity of seeds. The correlation coefficient between conductivity，soluble protein content or POD activity and seed vigor index was -0.93，0.79 or 0.71，which can be used as measurable indicators of A. dahurica seed vigor.