Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.15177/seefor.22-01
Acorn Yields and Seed Viability of Pedunculate Oak in a 10-year Period in Forest Seed Objects across Croatia
Anđelina Gavranović Markić
; Croatian Forest Research Institute, Division of Genetics, Forest Tree Breeding and Seed Science, Cvjetno naselje 41, HR-10450 Jastrebarsko, Croatia
Saša Bogdan
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Department of Forest Genetics, Dendrology and Botany, Svetošimunska 25, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Marija Gradečki Poštenjak
; Croatian Forest Research Institute, Division for Silviculture, Cvjetno naselje 41, HR-10450 Jastrebarsko, Croatia
Miran Lanšćak
; Croatian Forest Research Institute, Division of Genetics, Forest Tree Breeding and Seed Science, Cvjetno naselje 41, HR-10450 Jastrebarsko, Croatia
Zvonimir Vujnović
; Croatian Forest Research Institute, Division of Genetics, Forest Tree Breeding and Seed Science, Cvjetno naselje 41, HR-10450 Jastrebarsko, Croatia
Sanja Bogunović
; Croatian Forest Research Institute, Division of Genetics, Forest Tree Breeding and Seed Science, Cvjetno naselje 41, HR-10450 Jastrebarsko, Croatia
Mladen Ivanković
; Croatian Forest Research Institute, Division of Genetics, Forest Tree Breeding and Seed Science, Cvjetno naselje 41, HR-10450 Jastrebarsko, Croatia
Abstract
Quercus robur L. exhibits not only a large inter-annual variability in seed production but also considerable variability among locations and individuals within the same year. The differences in how individual trees and populations of oaks invest in acorn production, both in terms of the yield size and the acorns quality, is of interest both ecologically and economically. For this research we used data collected from harvesting which has been organised and executed by the largest forestry company in Croatia - public enterprise Croatian Forests Ltd. According to the Act on Forest Reproductive Material, Croatian Forest Research Institute is designated as the Official Body that supervises production and provides analysis of quality of forest reproductive material. Regarding that, we summarized data of 10-year long records (from 2009 to 2018) of submitted seed samples and seed quality testing from 119 Q. robur forest seed objects across Croatia. Our aim was to investigate seed yield and effects of seed size and seed moisture content on seed viability. In the study period there were four years with higher quantity of collected seeds than other years (2010, 2011, 2015 and 2017). There was no significant difference in seed viability among forest seed objects. However, variations among years within forest seed objects were highly significant. It was also found that seed size (indicated by the number of acorns per kg) and seed moisture content were significantly related to seed viability. Bigger seed dimensions, i.e. lower mean number of acorns per kg, correlated with higher viability. Lower moisture content affected decrease in acorn viability. On average, viability dropped below 70% when acorn mean moisture decreased below 36%. Thus, it can be concluded that bigger seeds and seeds with moisture content of 40-44% have better viability.
Keywords
Quercus robur L.; acorn crop; moisture content; seed size
Hrčak ID:
281164
URI
Publication date:
30.6.2022.
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