Abstract: The severe shortage of excellent perennial forage varieties suitable for planting in Inner Mongolia is a crucial factor restricting the healthy development of grassland and animal husbandry as well as the income increasement of farmers and herdsmen. In order to solve this problem, the 'native plant breeding' method was used to collect seeds of wild Elymus sibiricus from Dahuabei in Baiyinhua Town of Urad Front Banner of Inner Mongolia; after artificial introduction and domestication, a new strain of Elymus sibiricus suitable for popularization and cultivation under the climatic conditions of Inner Mongolia with high ecological and economic value was obtained. In this study, the comparative analysis of seed morphology, water absorption and germination characteristics of the new strain of Elymus sibiricus was carried out using the wild Elymus sibiricus as a control. The results showed that the awn length and water uptake of the wild Elymus sibiricus were significantly (P<0. 05) higher than those of the new strain of Elymus sibiricus; the germination rate, germination potential, germination index and seed vigor of the new strain of Elymus sibiricus were significantly (P<0. 05) higher than those of the wild Elymus sibiricus; there was no significant difference in caryopsis length between the two varieties. After domestication, the awn length of the new strain of Elymus sibiricus became shorter and its germination ability became stronger, which made it more suitable for field planting and production.

Key words: wild Elymus sibiricus, new strain of Elymus sibiricus, seed germination characteristics