Özet:

This study aims to determine some morphological characteristics of two-year-old common hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L.) and oriental hornbeam (Carpinus orientalis Mill.) seedling and to determine the quality classes of the seedlings according to Turkish Standards Institute’s (TSI) seedling quality standards and sturdiness quotient values. As a study material, two-year-old common hornbeam and oriental hornbeam seedlings, grown from seed obtained from three different altitudes as lower (0-400 m), mid (400-800 m) and upper (800-1200 m) in the Trabzon-Maçka watershed were used. The seedlings were grown in seedbeds in open nursery conditions of Karadeniz Technical University Forestry Faculty Research and Application Greenhouse. Seedling length and root collar diameter were measured in two-year-old seedlings. The sturdiness quotient was calculated with the data of the measured seedling morphological characteristics. Quality classes were classified according to TSI seedling quality standards determined for hornbeam seedlings. The highest mean seedling length for common hornbeam was determined as 48.76 cm at the 3rd altitude level, while the highest mean seedling length for oriental hornbeam was found as 38.90 cm at the 2nd altitude level. The mean root collar diameters for were varied between 4.97-5.23 mm in common hornbeam and 4.62-5.09 mm in oriental hornbeam. As a result of variance analysis, statistically significant differences (p<0.05) among altitudes regarding seedling length and sturdiness quotient of common hornbeam. As for the oriental hornbeam, it was found that statistically significant differences on 95% confidence level in terms of seedling length and root collar diameter. In addition, significant differences between the two seedling quality assessments and consistent results were not obtained. This shows that both TSI seedling quality standards and the sturdiness quotient criteria are not sufficient by themselves to determine the quality of common hornbeam and oriental hornbeam.