Abstract:Seed morphology and germination, seedling morphology and biomass of 24 treespecies in the lower subtropical forest of China were studied comparatively in light anddark conditions on expanded perlite as germination and growth medium. Seed morphologyand seed mass were related with species of different successional stages of the forest andwith species from different families. Percentage of germination was obviously differentamong various species. Heavier seeds had higher percentages. Seeds from pulpy fruit usually showed significantly later germination． Light and dark conditions did not significantly affect germination percentage and germination speed of the species. Seedling height was positively correlated with seed weight. The correlation betwen seed weight and seedling height semed to be more obvious under light treatment． Dark condition caused the stem etiolation and limited the growth of root of the early seral(successiona1)species．However it was not so obvious for late seral species．Seedlings of about half of the species had higher shoot biomass than root biomass in both light and dark conditions. Shoot and root biomass allocation was related with different families，and with different seral stages of the species．It was also affected by light and dark conditions．Seed weight appeared not to affect the biomass ratio of shoot to root in seedlings． Root and leaf biomass allocation were related with species．Biomass of the seedlings was positively related with seed weight． Relative growth rate (RGR) of the seedlings without nutrient supply was quite different among the species．Higher RGR was found in the mid seral species．Matter utilization efficiency (MUE) of the seedling from seed was obviously negatively related with seed weight，and appeared not to be related with seral stages of the species．
