The invention relates to a torreya grandis seed after-ripening treatment method for promoting embryo development, used for gymnosperm taxaceae torreya.. Pearlite or river sand is soaked by clear water under the condition that no water is dropped when the pearlite or the river sand is held by hands and a soaked pearlite or river sand layer is paved at the bottom of a container, then torreya grandis seeds are placed in a layer way, and the soaked pearlite or river sand layer is covered on the torreya grandis seeds, and then other seeds are placed again, and then the soaked pearlite or river sand layer is covered on the seeds by parity of reasoning until the upper part of the container is covered by the pearlite or river sand layer; then poikilothermic treatment is carried out for 90-100 days; inspection is carried out and the pearlite or river sand is maintained to be moist, and no water is accumulated; after the seeds are subjected to after-ripening treatment for 90 days by adopting the method, not only reaches embryo development rate up to more than 95%, and dissection shows that torreya grandis grow to a fresh green mature embryo with the length of being about 2cm from a flavescent young embryo with the length of being about 0.001cm and the size same as that of a needle point, and the mature embryo almost penetrates trough the whole torreya grandis seed; and secondly, the torreya grandis seed after-ripening treatment method disclosed by the invention is applicable to sowing, raising seedling and tissue culture of the mature embryo, cotyledons, embryo, embryonic axis and endosperm of the torreya grandis and is also applicable to all torreya plants in the world.