Fang Dongyang, Zhao Xinyang, Pan Yuqing, Qiao Jiaxin, Xu Yongbin, Chai Erjun, Li Yali
School of Life Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou, China.
Inner Mongolia Yili Licorice Co., Ltd, Ordos, China.
Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 1;15(1):21955. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-05736-0.
In the standardized production of the herb Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., high-quality seeds and seedlings serve as the basis of production and are the main precondition that ensures the quality of herbs produced from these sources. Using traditional seed quality testing methods such as the halving method, soaking method, hundred grain weight method, red ink dyeing method, electrical conductivity method, and high-temperature drying method, quality grading standards for G. uralensis seeds were formulated by determining indices, namely, the purity, morphology, thousand grain weight, hardness rate, germination rate, moisture content, viability, vigor, and health, of seeds circulating on the market on the Ordos Plateau with obvious differences in size and color of the seed coat. Based on the results, the following criteria were established: for first-grade seeds, small-seed thousand grain weight ≥ 6.7 g, large-seed thousand grain weight ≥ 12.2 g, purity ≥ 99%, hardness rate ≥ 85%, seed germination rate under normal growing conditions ≥ 85%, seed germination rate under drought stress ≥ 70%, moisture content ≤ 7%, viability ≥ 90%, conductivity ≤ 20 µS·(cm·g), and smooth surface; and for second-grade seeds, small-seed thousand grain weight ≥ 4.6 g, large-seed thousand grain weight ≥ 11.8 g, purity ≥ 96%, hardness rate ≥ 50%, seed germination rate under normal growing conditions ≥ 30%, seed germination rate under drought stress ≥ 15%, moisture content ≤ 7%, viability ≥ 60%, conductivity ≤ 100 µS·(cm·g), and smooth or slightly wrinkled surface. However, second-grade seeds have more than two unqualified indices, and therefore seeds that are less than first-grade are classed as failing screening. The quality grading standards developed for G. uralensis seeds can provide an experimental basis for analyzing the current status of G. uralensis seed quality and devising standard operating procedures for seed testing.
在甘草标准化生产中，优质种子和种苗是生产的基础，是确保以此为来源生产的药材质量的主要前提条件。采用减半法、浸种法、百粒重法、红墨水染色法、电导率法、高温烘干法等传统种子质量检测方法，通过测定鄂尔多斯高原市场流通种子的纯度、形态、千粒重、硬实率、发芽率、含水量、生活力、活力和健康度等指标，针对种皮大小和颜色差异明显的甘草种子制定了质量分级标准。基于这些结果，制定了以下标准：一级种子，小粒种子千粒重≥6.7克，大粒种子千粒重≥12.2克，纯度≥99%，硬实率≥85%，正常生长条件下种子发芽率≥85%，干旱胁迫下种子发芽率≥70%，含水量≤7%，生活力≥90%，电导率≤20μS·(cm·g)，表面光滑；二级种子，小粒种子千粒重≥4.6克，大粒种子千粒重≥11.8克，纯度≥96%，硬实率≥50%，正常生长条件下种子发芽率≥30%，干旱胁迫下种子发芽率≥15%，含水量≤7%，生活力≥60%，电导率≤100μS·(cm·g)，表面光滑或稍有皱缩。然而，二级种子有两项以上指标不合格，因此低于一级的种子被归类为筛选不合格。制定的甘草种子质量分级标准可为分析甘草种子质量现状和制定种子检测标准操作规程提供实验依据。
