The effect of the temperature of drying on viability and some factors affecting storability of Fagus sylvatica seeds

Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) seeds, which are tolerant to desiccation, freshly harvested after shedding, were dried at 15 and 30 degreesC and at the similar rate, to 9% of water content. A slight decrease of germinability, was observed in seeds dried at 30 degreesC. Moreover, there was a notably higher solute leakage and a higher level of lipid hydroperoxides. Seeds dried at 30 degreesC contained less PC and PE and a lower level of unsaturated fatty acids (18:2 and 18:3), sterols and alpha-tocopherol. These results as well as changes in ascorbate and glutathione contents provide conclusive evidence for the presence of oxidative stress in beech seeds desiccated at 30 degreesC, which damaged membranes due to increased lipid peroxidation and changed membrane structure leading to their enhanced sensibility to free radical attack during storage.