Reduced germination is associated with loss of phytic acid in stored seedsof sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.)

The aim of the research was to develop new, cheap and practical methods for storage of acorns of sessile oak. Currently it is only possible to store t hem for 6 months. The research is based on the hypothesis, that the germina tion of acorns after storage is positively correlated with the amount of ph ytic acid in them, which is positively correlated with the content of avail able P in soil. The experiment was established as a case study on two plots of sessile oak, which differed in the P content of the leaves, used as an indicator of available P in the soil. The seeds were collected in October 1 997 and stored for 9 months until August 1998. Before storage and at three monthly intervals, the following observations at -1 degrees C were made: ge rmination and moisture, phytic acid and P content of acorns. The results sh ow that the plot with a higher content of P in the leaves also has higher c ontent of P and phytic acid in acorns, and germination is higher. The diffe rences can be observed only at the beginning of storage. The results sugges t that there is a positive correlation between the vitality of acorns in st orage, the content of phytic acid in acorns and the content of P in soil. H owever, the data are not yet sufficient to prove such a correlation.