【Objective】 To reveal the key factors affecting the germination delay of Elymus nutans seeds. 【Method】 In this study,we compared the differences in germination delay,physiological and biochemical characteris‐ tics,endogenous nutrient content and environmental factors of wild Elymus nutans seeds from different populations. 【Result】 The results showed that population P2 had the shortest germination delay of 6. 0 d and P8 had the longest germination delay of 47. 3 d. Population P5 had the highest 1000‐seed weight of 4. 2 g,82. 6%(P<0. 05) higher than the smallest population P6. Compared to the lowest P1 and P4,Pro content and CAT activity of P8 seeds were the highest with the increase by 517% and 14. 2% (P<0. 05),respectively (P<0. 05);P1 had the lowest MDA content which was 34. 9% lower (P<0. 05) than P7. P1 had the highest POD activity and P content which were 3 and 4 times higher than P5 and P4,respectively (P<0. 05);P3 had the lowest Ec value,43. 1% lower than P6,and had the highest SOD activity,12. 8% higher than P2(P<0. 05);P5 had the highest soluble sugar and starch content,87% and 110% higher than the lowest P6 and P1 respectively (P<0. 05);P4 had the highest N content,59. 6% higher than P7(P<0. 05);and P9 had the highest K content,27. 2% higher than P4(P<0. 05).【Conclusion】 The correla‐ tion analyses showed that the germination delay was positively correlated with starch,MDA content and altitude, among which the germination delay was significantly correlated with starch content,thus starch might be an impor‐ tant factor affecting seed germination delay.