We hypothesized that Strychnos nux-vomica and Strychnos potatorum in seasonal tropical ecosystems have dormant desiccation-tolerant seeds, while those of Strychnos benthamii growing in aseasonal wet habitats have non-dormant desiccation-sensitive seeds. Germination, imbibition, the effect of gibberellic acid on germination and changes in the embryo to seed length ratio (E:S) during incubation were determined for the three species. Seed storage behaviour was identified with the hundred seed test. Time taken for epicotyl emergence was recorded. Radicle emergence of S. nux-vomica, S. potatorum and S. benthamii at 25°C under light/dark conditions (12/12 h) was completed within 76, 49 and 11 d, respectively. S. nux-vomica and S. potatorum seeds incubated on GA3 germinated to a higher percentage than non-treated seeds. E:S of S. nux-vomica, S. potatorum and S. benthamii had increased by 38.2, 34.5 and 25.5%, respectively, at radicle emergence. Shoot emergence of S. nux-vomica, S. potatorum and S. benthamii was observed after 76, 74 and 45 d from radicle emergence, respectively. Thus, it can be concluded that the seeds of all three species have epicotyl morphophysiological dormancy. Hundred seed tests revealed that S. nux-vomica and S. potatorum seeds were desiccation-tolerant, while those of S. benthamii were desiccation-sensitive. Our study showed that species from seasonal habitats (S. nux-vomica and S. potatorum) have desiccation-tolerant morphophysiologically dormant seeds, while those from an aseasonal habitat (S. benthamii) have desiccation-sensitive morphophysiologically dormant seeds, revealing that their dormancy and desiccation tolerance behaviour are adaptations to their environment.

中文翻译：

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马钱子、马铃薯和本氏马钱子（马钱科）种子的上胚轴形态生理休眠和贮藏行为

我们假设马钱子和马铃薯在季节性热带生态系统中，具有休眠的耐干燥种子，而那些本氏马钱子生长在非季节性潮湿栖息地的种子具有非休眠的对干燥敏感的种子。测定了三个物种的发芽、吸水、赤霉酸对发芽的影响以及孵化过程中胚与种子长度比（E：S）的变化。种子贮藏行为通过百粒试验确定。记录上胚轴出现所用的时间。胚根的出现S.马钱子,马铃薯和本氏沙门氏菌在 25°C 光照/黑暗条件下（12/12 h）分别在 76、49 和 11 d 内完成。S.马钱子和马铃薯在 GA 上培养的种子3发芽率比未经处理的种子高。E:S 的S.马钱子,马铃薯和本氏沙门氏菌在胚根出现时分别增加了 38.2、34.5 和 25.5%。芽的出现S.马钱子,马铃薯和本氏沙门氏菌分别在胚根出现后 76、74 和 45 天后观察到。因此，可以得出结论，所有三个物种的种子都具有上胚轴形态生理休眠。一百次种子测试表明，S.马钱子和马铃薯种子耐干燥，而本氏沙门氏菌对干燥敏感。我们的研究表明，来自季节性栖息地的物种（S.马钱子和马铃薯）具有耐干燥的形态生理休眠种子，而来自非季节性栖息地的种子（本氏沙门氏菌）具有干燥敏感的形态生理休眠种子，表明它们的休眠和耐干燥行为是对其环境的适应。