Leś. Pr. Bad., 2009, Vol. 70 (3): 253-269.

Wpływ warunków podsuszania nasion modrzewia europejskiego, daglezji zielonej i sosny górskiej przeznaczonych do długookresowego przechowywania na ich żywotność
The effect of drying seeds of European larch, Douglas-fir and mountain pine foreseen for a long-term storage on their viability

Olesia Witowska, Ewa Aniśko, Andrzej Załęski
Instytut Badawczy Leśnictwa, Zakład Genetyki i Fizjologii Drzew Leśnych, Sękocin Stary, ul. Braci Leśnej 3, 05-090 Raszyn, Poland; Fax +48 22 7150313; O.Witowska@ibles.waw.pl

Abstract. The aim of the research was (1) to establish the minimal water content level in seeds of selected coniferous tree species (Douglas-fir, European larch and mountain pine) to which seeds can be dried without loosing their germination viability and (2) to develop the technique for gradual seed drying that does not cause damage to and maintain the viability of seeds. The research results show that safe moisture level to which the natural moisture of seeds can be reduced is 4 per cent for Douglas-fir and mountain pine seeds and 4.5 per cent for European larch seeds. The maximal temperature at which the vitality of tested seeds is maintained is 35°C for mountain pine, 40°C – for European larch and 45°C – for Douglas-fir.

Key words: seed moisture content, germination viability, Pseudotsuga douglasii Carr, Larix decidua Mill., Pinus mugo Turro.