自然條件下，西洋參種胚第一年增長很緩慢，α、β-淀粉酶，過氧化物酶活性很低。第二年胚迅速增長，這3種酶活性逐漸上升。激素處理后，顯著地提高了這3種酶的活性，加速了胚乳養(yǎng)分的分解，還原糖含量逐漸增高，從而其種子能提早萌發(fā)。

In natural condition, two years were needed for Panax quinquefolius seeds to break dormancy. In the first year, the embryo developed slowly, and the activities of amylase and peroxidase were low. In the second year the embryo developed rapidly, and the activities of both enzymes also increased gradually. But with the treatment of hormones enzymatic activ ities accelarated remarkably and speeded up the decomposition of stored nutrients in endos perm, so that starch and non-reducing sugar decreased while reducing sugar incrcased rapidly, resulting in earlier germination.