Effects of high voltage electrostatic field treatment on seed dormancy breaking and medicinal contents of Hypericum perforatum L.

In order to break seed germination dormancy and increase medicinally metabolite production,we utilized the technology of high voltage electrostatic field(HVEF) on Hypericum perforatum L..After dormant seeds were treated in HVEF(100 kv/m) for one hour,the seed sprouting potential(SPO) and sprouting percentage(SPT) were 5.69 and 2.45 times higher than that in the control.After micro-shoots were treated in HVEF(135 kv/m～150 kv/m) for one hour,the production of total hypericins and hyperforin was 1.35~1.53 times higher than that in the control.Meanwhile,POD activity of micro-shoot in HVEF(150 kv/m) treatment was 1.30 times higher than that in the control.The results indicated that treatment of HVEF in a definite intensity for specific time was effective to stimulate seed germination and increase the production of total hypericins and hyperforin in H.perforatum.