Seed Germination of <i>Osyris lanceolata</i>: Chemical Induction and Scalable Strategies

As the problems of high cultivation costs and restricted sustainable resource utilization, resulting from the complex germination characteristics of African sandalwood (<i>Osyris lanceolata</i>), have become prominent, this research is designed to systematically analyze these characteristics and develop a graded germination strategy. This initiative seeks to lower industrial production costs, offer solutions for mass cultivation and conservation, and facilitate the growth of associated specialty industries. Using naturally matured seeds, mechanical treatments (seed-coat removal, heat shock, pericarp removal followed by shade-drying) and chemical soaking with GA<sub>3</sub>+ kinetin (KT) at 500-1500 mg/L were evaluated. Germination percentage (GP), germination index (GI), and synchrony (GV) served as metrics, while ANOVA, Duncan's test, and effect sizes (η<sup>2</sup>, Cohen's f) were employed to identify the optimal dormancy-breaking protocol. The optimal chemical treatment was soaking seeds in 1500 mg/L GA<sub>3</sub> + 20 mg/L KT for 24 h (GK9), achieving a germination rate of 79.77%; the optimal mechanical treatment was seed coat removal, resulting in a germination rate of 67.60% (p<0.001). To enhance the germination performance of <i>O. lanceolata</i> seeds, a scenario-specific, graded strategy is recommended. For precision nursery cultivation, the M1 method is adopted to avoid chemical contamination. Large-scale production should prioritize the GK9 protocol. For cultivation under stressful conditions, the synergistic effect of heat shock combined with a low concentration of GA<sub>3</sub> is recommended for further exploration. 针对沙针（Osyris lanceolata）种子萌发特性复杂导致的培育成本高、资源可持续利用受限等问题凸显，本研究旨在系统解析其萌发特性，建立分级萌发策略，降低其人工培育的产业化成本，为规模化繁育与资源保护提供解决方案，推动相关特色产业链的开发。以自然结实种子为材料，通过剥种皮、热激、剥除果皮阴干等机械处理与GA3+KT组合浸种，浓度梯度500-1500 mg/L等化学浸种处理方法，结合萌发率（GP）、萌发指数（GI）、同步性（GV）等萌发指数，以及萌发差异性（Anova、Duncan's）、效应量（η2、Cohen's f）评估，筛选最优萌发方案。化学浸种最优处理方案为1500 mg/L GA3+20 mg/L KT浸种24 h（GK9），萌发率达79.77%；物理最优处理方案为剥除种皮，萌发率67.60%（p<0.001）。为提升沙针种子萌发效果，需采用场景适配的分级策略——精细化育苗采用剥除种皮以规避化学污染，规模化生产首选GK9，逆境栽培探索热激+低浓度GA3协同增效。