Chinese wampee seeds which are very sensitive to desiccation are typical recalcitrant seeds.The germination percentage and germination index of seeds fell to zero when the moisture content decreased to 22.4% from the original average of 51%.When the seeds were first allowed to undergo natural desiccation,the amount of soluble substance leaking out of the seeds into the water in which the Chinese wampee seeds were soaked was higher.In the meantime,ATPase activities in mitochondrial membrane and plasma membrane decreased, and SOD activity in seeds rose at first, andthen declined, and the products of lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde(MDA)and lipid hydroperoxides increased markedly.Diethyldithiocarbamic acid, MDA and Fe~(2+) promoted lipid peroxidation, and lowered seed viability.Ascorbic acid and mannitol retarded lipid peroxidation,and improved seed viability.