Abstract
This study was conducted to improve the postharvest storage techniques of managing and storing seeds, to test qualities and viabilities of the seeds and to examine the germination rate and the protein expression of Achyranthes japonica Nakai. The seeds collected from different areas of Je-Cheon and Gwang-Ju were stored with different temperatures and durations. Two plant growth regulators and two seed priming were treated to investigate their effect on the germination rates and the days required for germination. The weight of one hundred seed collected in Gwang-Ju was heavier than those in Je-Cheon. Seed length collected in Gwang-Ju was also longer about 5.12 mm than those in Je-Cheon about 4.90 mm and seed width was longer in Gwang-Ju than those in Je-Cheon. The rates of seed germination in two different collection areas were higher about 2.9 to 13.0% in Gwang-Ju compared to those in Je-Cheon. Comparing its rates with the storing temperatures and durations, they were not clearly different in between $4^{\circ}C$ and $25^{\circ}C$ and they also were gradually decreased with getting longer storing durations. The germination rates treated by plant growth regulators were higher with $GA_3$ than those with Kinetin. The highest seed germination rate was appeared at 50 ppm of $GA_3$. Comparing its rates with different seed priming, they were relatively higher with $KNO_3$ than those with PEG6000. In protein expression patterns between before the germinating and after the germinating of seeds, more and clear bands were appeared in the seed after the germination compared to those before the germination of seeds, especially 10 ~ 20 kDa. These results showing more and clear bands were more clearly appeared in Gwang-Ju compared to Je-Cheon. Comparing the protein expression with plant growth regulators and seed primings, $GA_3$ was better expression than those with Kinetin and $KNO_3$ was better than those with PEG6000. More and clear bands were closely related to the germination rates of seeds and more detailed studies would be required.
