Abstract: The seed coat permeability of Paeonia ostia ‘Fengdan’ was studied， and the effect of water and methanol extracts of various parts of the seed on seed germination of cabbage was investigated. The results showed that there was significant difference in water absorption rate and capacity of Paeonia ostii ‘Fengdan’ between the treatments of complete and pricked seed coat， indicating the obstacle in water absorption of Paeonia ostii ‘Fengdan’ seed coats.  The seed coat， endosperm and embryo of Paeonia ostii ‘Fengdan’ all showed inhibitory effects on seed germination of cabbage， and the inhibitory effects increased with the increase of the extracts concentration. Under the same concentration of extracts from the same part， the inhibitory effect of methanol extracts on cabbage seed germination and seedling growth were significantly higher than water extracts. The extracts of endosperm showed higher inhibitory effect than seed coat and embryo in the same concentration.

Key words: Paeonia ostii &lsquo, Fengdan&rsquo, ；seed；extracts；bioassay