Abstract:

Tree breeding is one of the most efficient ways to increase production in forestry. The use of improved seeds makes a significant contribution to raising the efficiency of the unit area in forestation works. Therefore, it is important to use seeds of good quality and appropriate origin. In addition to selection of seeds based on phenotypic selection, the determination of chemical content also provides a significant contribution to quality seed production. In this study, chemical measurements were made on the seeds of Quercus petraea subsp. petraea (Mattuschka) L. which is one of the natural oak species that has an important share in terms of the area covered by our country’s forests. The oak seeds were collected from the pure sessile oak stands located within Kırklareli province Demirköy Forestry Enterprise Directorate the Karacadag Forest Sub-district Directorate boundaries. The amounts of proline, glucose, sucrose, phenolic compounds, pyruvate, malondialdehyde (MDA), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) were measured in the seeds classified as germinated, non-germinated, damaged and rotten. In statistical analysis, a significant difference was found between the groups (p <0.05). As a result, sucrose, flavonoid, and total polyphenol contents were found to be high in healthy seeds (1 and 2 number), while glucose, MDA, and H2O2 amounts were detected to be higher in discolored- unhealthy seeds (3 number). Also, pyruvate and proline concentrations were higher in rotten seeds (4 number).

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