LAUSR

We investigated the morphological characteristics of Maesa japonica seeds and the optimal conditions for germination. The seeds were exalbuminous, and their length and width were 0.85 ± 0.09 mm and 0.77 ± 0.05 mm, respectively. We tested germination at 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35°C; the optimum temperature for germination was 30°C (64% germination). To test the effects of gibberellic acid (GA3) and KNO3 on germination, the seeds were soaked in solutions containing 0, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 or 2.0 g GA3 L-1 or 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.20 or 0.50 g KNO3 L-1 before sowing for germination. KNO3 treatment increased germination percentage and speed. Soaking in GA3 concentrations over 1.0 g L-1 stimulated 100% germination after 13 days. A presoaking treatment that combined 1.0 g GA3 L-1 and 0.2 g KNO3 L-1 promoted germination speed and shortened the time in which half of the seeds germinated. Overall, we determined that the best method for germination of Maesa japonica seeds was pre-soaking in 1.0 g GA3 L-1 and 0.2 g KNO3 L-1 at 4°C in the dark for 24 hours, followed by incubation at 25–30°C in a 16-hour light, 8-hour dark cycle for 10 days.