目的:探索巫山淫羊藿种子休眠特性并筛选有效的打破休眠方法。方法:浸种称重法测定其种皮透水性;生物测定法检测种内发芽抑制物;层积结束后,解剖观察种胚发育情况,计算发芽率及发芽势。结果:浸种5 h后,种子吸水率达41.86%;不同种子浸提液可显著抑制白菜幼根生长;5℃低温层积效果最为显著,90 d后种子胚率由处理前15.39%增至86.21%;低温层积后种子的发芽率与发芽势显著高于其他处理。结论:巫山淫羊藿种皮无明显吸水障碍,种子休眠的主要原因为胚形态后熟及发芽抑制物;低温层积较其他方法可显著促进种胚形态发育,提高发芽率,是最佳的破眠方法。 Objective: To explore the dormancy characteristics of Epimedium wushanense seeds and screen for effective methods to break dormancy. Methods: The soaking seed weight was used to determine the water permeability of the seed coat. The bioassay was used to detect the germination inhibitors. After stratification, the embryo development was dissected and the germination rate and germination potential were calculated. Results: The water absorption rate of seeds reached 41.86% after soaking for 5 h. The seed extracts of different seeds could significantly inhibit the growth of young roots of cabbage. The effect of low temperature stratification at 5 ℃ was the most significant. Seed germination rate increased from 15.39% to 86.21 %. The germination rate and germination energy of seeds after cold stratification were significantly higher than those of other treatments. Conclusion: The seed coat of Epimedium wushanense had no obvious water-absorption barrier. The main reason of seed dormancy was post-embryo morphological ripening and germination inhibition. Compared with other methods, hypothermia stratification could significantly promote embryo morphogenesis and increase germination rate, which was the best Hypnotic method.