The effect of heating process on Turkish red pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) seeds.

In this study, Turkish red pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) seeds were collected from four altitudinal belts (0-400 m, 400-800 m, 800-1200 m and ≥1200 m) on 2 transects in Anamur and Mersin regions. Heating process (1, 3, 5 and 7 minutes) was applied to seedlings and changes in germination characteristics were investigated. In order to determine germination temperatures of seeds, pre-germination tests were done at 15, 20, 25oC and germination percentages of these temperatures were 44.2%, 68.1% and 52.0% respectively. The highest germination rates were observed in both transects on every altitudinal belt at a temperature of 20ºC (68.1%). According to the germination tests, the germination performances were decreased with increasing altitude. Germination ratios of the heated seeds were decreased from lower to higher altitudinal belts. The germination rates of the seeds which were heated at 150oC for 1 minute (62.9%) were close to the control (66.4%). In addition, even higher germinations were obtained at some altitudinal belts. However, germinations at the heating for 3 minutes were considerably decreased (33.9%) and for 5 minutes few germinations occured. Vitality of seeds were lost and no germinations were seen (0.0%) at the heating for 7 minutes.