Desiccation Levels of European Beech Seeds

Seeds of Fagus sylvatica L. (European beech) were collected from the population in Gryfino, Poland (N53° 14′ 44″, E14° 32′ 47). The moisture content (MC) of seeds was calculated on a fresh weight basis using a previously described formula [26 (link)]. Freshly collected seeds had MC at the level of 29.5%. Then samples of seeds were dried on a laboratory bench at 20 °C to a 7.6% of MC that lasted up to eight days. In order to obtain MC values lower than 7.6%, seeds were placed in a drying box on blotting paper and desiccated over silica gel. Finally, beech seeds were desiccated to six levels of MC (17.2, 13.4, 10.5, 7.6, 5.9, and 4.0%). The duration of the desiccation ranged from several days to two–six weeks in the case of the lowest MC. Moisture contents of seeds were assessed by drying at 103 °C ± 2 °C for 24 h.