Relation between seed morphological characteristics of three native oak species of Zagros with germination characteristics and seedling growth

Conservation and development of Zagros oak forests requires collecting appropriate seeds for reforestation and afforestation plans. For this purpose, seeds of 60 trees of Quercus brantii, infectoria and libani (20 trees from each species) were collected from forests of Baneh, western Iran. After picking up 5 trees with distinct seed weight, the correlation between seed morphological characteristics and its growing traits like seed germination parameters and primary growth of seedling was investigated. The results showed that Quercus libani had larger seeds and seedlings compare to other species, but no significant differences in germination rate were observed between these three species. Also Quercus infectoria showed highest average time of germination. Regardless of species, primary growth of seedlings was affected by different seed morphological characteristics. So that, wider, more circular, bigger and heavier seeds produced larger seedlings. This correlation was higher in Quercus brantii and lower in Q. infectoria. But, there was no significant correlation between seed morphology and germination parameters in three oak species.