INSTYTUT DENDROLOGII

Abstract:  Many seed lots of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) nuts are characterized by various levels of infection with pathogenic fungi, such as Fusarium, Rhizoctonia and Cylindrocarpon spp. Favourable conditions for fungal infection of beechnuts are created especially during their long-term provisional storage without earlier drying to the moisture content of 8-10%. Strongly infected seed lots are not suitable for long-term storage. During the pre-sowing treatment of seeds by stratification without medium, fungi develop under the moist conditions and infect many healthy seeds. To assess the quality of beechnuts, a vigour test has been developed. Seeds removed from the pericarp (4 replications of 50 nuts each) are placed in boxes between two layers of moist tissue paper and incubated at 25°C for 120 hours. After this period decayed seeds (mouldy seeds) are excluded, and the remained are subjected to embryo viability by the tetrazolium test. When the percentage of decaying seeds (including those with necroses) does not exceed 10-15%, such seed lot can be used for long-term storage. If the percentage exceeds 50%, the seed lot should be considered unsuitable both for storage and for pre-sowing treatment, because only a very small proportion of seeds will emerge in the nursery.