Objective This study investigates the effects of treating seeds of Polygonatum cyrtonema cultivars ‘Li Jing No.1’ and Qingyuan source with 200 mg·L⁻¹ 6-Benzylaminopurine (6-BA) for varying soaking durations on the germination of their primary rhizomes.

Method Seeds of Polygonatum cyrtonema ‘Li Jing No.1’ and Qingyuan source were used as experimental subjects. A 200 mg·L⁻¹ 6-BA solution was prepared for soaking treatments of 1, 2, 4, and 6 hours, with distilled water as the control. Each treatment was repeated three times to assess and compare the germination rate, seedling vigor, and survival rate of the seedlings under different conditions.

Result 1. Soaking duration at 200 mg·L⁻¹ significantly influenced the germination rate of primary rhizomes in both cultivars. A 2-hour soaking period yielded the best germination results, achieving an average germination rate of 57.33% for both ‘Li Jing No.1’ and Qingyuan source seeds. 2. Seedling vigor was significantly improved with a 2-hour treatment, with ‘Li Jing No.1’ and Qingyuan source seeds reaching vigor levels of 48.67% and 50.67%, respectively. 3. Soaking duration also affected the survival rate of seedlings. Both ‘Li Jing No.1’ and Qingyuan source seedlings treated with 200 mg·L⁻¹ 6-BA for 2 hours had survival rates exceeding 90%, exhibiting optimal growth.

Conclusion A 2-hour soak of Polygonatum cyrtonema seeds (‘Li Jing No.1’ and Qingyuan source) in 200 mg·L⁻¹ 6-BA significantly enhances germination rates, shortens germination time compared to conventional methods, and improves both seedling vigor and survival rates. This method is simple, cost-effective, and practical for seedling cultivation processes.