Screening criteria for high-quality Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. seeds from the Ordos Plateau

Abstract 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...

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Main Authors: Dongyang Fang, Xinyang Zhao, Yuqing Pan, Jiaxin Qiao, Yongbin Xu, Erjun Chai, Yali Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05736-0
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author Dongyang Fang
Xinyang Zhao
Yuqing Pan
Jiaxin Qiao
Yongbin Xu
Erjun Chai
Yali Li
author_facet Dongyang Fang
Xinyang Zhao
Yuqing Pan
Jiaxin Qiao
Yongbin Xu
Erjun Chai
Yali Li
author_sort Dongyang Fang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract 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)−1, 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)−1, 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.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2045-2322
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publishDate 2025-07-01
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spelling doaj-art-e1d6cad8bf1f4f57ad456ee2615d373c2025-08-20T03:45:24ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-05736-0Screening criteria for high-quality Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. seeds from the Ordos PlateauDongyang Fang0Xinyang Zhao1Yuqing Pan2Jiaxin Qiao3Yongbin Xu4Erjun Chai5Yali Li6School of Life Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University of Science and TechnologySchool of Life Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University of Science and TechnologySchool of Life Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University of Science and TechnologySchool of Life Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University of Science and TechnologySchool of Life Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University of Science and TechnologyInner Mongolia Yili Licorice Co., LtdSchool of Life Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University of Science and TechnologyAbstract 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)−1, 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)−1, 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.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05736-0Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.Quality gradingSeedsScreening criteria
spellingShingle Dongyang Fang
Xinyang Zhao
Yuqing Pan
Jiaxin Qiao
Yongbin Xu
Erjun Chai
Yali Li
Screening criteria for high-quality Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. seeds from the Ordos Plateau
Scientific Reports
Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.
Quality grading
Seeds
Screening criteria
title Screening criteria for high-quality Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. seeds from the Ordos Plateau
title_full Screening criteria for high-quality Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. seeds from the Ordos Plateau
title_fullStr Screening criteria for high-quality Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. seeds from the Ordos Plateau
title_full_unstemmed Screening criteria for high-quality Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. seeds from the Ordos Plateau
title_short Screening criteria for high-quality Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. seeds from the Ordos Plateau
title_sort screening criteria for high quality glycyrrhiza uralensis fisch seeds from the ordos plateau
topic Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.
Quality grading
Seeds
Screening criteria
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05736-0
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