Effects of Storage on Germination Percentages and Germination Rates of Oriental Spruce (Picea orientalis L.) Seeds

This study was carried out to determine effects of long-term storage process on germination percentages and germination rates of oriental spruce (Picea orientalis L.) seeds. Seeds were used in this study belong to 18 different origin collected with TüB？TAK Project number TOGTAG 3232. Seeds were stored at 0-5oC for 9 years that germinate in laboratory with four replications. 50 seeds were used in each replication. The result of germination compared with germination achieved in TOGTAG 3232 project studies. As a result of the study, proportional reductions in the germination percentage of P. orientalis seeds by years were between 0.41% and 79.05%. The proportional reductions in germination rates varied between 12.76% and 77.61%. The smallest decreases in the percentage and rate of germination were in Artvin–Atilla and Ardanu？–Ovac？k (1) origins and the most decrease occurred in the origin of Ordu–？amba？？. According to the results of the study, it would be said that the most suitable originals for long-term storage are Artvin–Atila and Ardanuc–Ovac？k (1) origin