DOĞU AKDENİZ BÖLGESİNDEKİ RELİKT KIZILAĞAÇ (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.) POPÜLASYONLARININ TOHUM ÖZELLİKLERİ

: In this study, seed characteristics of Common alder ( Alnus glutinosa (L).Gaertn.) Andirin, Düziçi, Kozan, Karaisalı) in Kahramanmaraş, Osmaniye, and Adana provinces in both 2012 and 2013. In the laboratory, the morphological characteristics of cones and seeds, percentage of sound seeds, and 1000-seed weight were researched. Dormancy existence and depth, germination percentages, germination speed, and the differences between the years (2012 and 2013) were also determined. The seeds were taken to germination tests after 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 weeks of prechilling at 24°C. The relict populations in the region were also observed in terms of development, regeneration, and sustainability. Average cone length, cone diameter, cone weight, seed lentgth, seed width, and seed thickness were 17.89 mm, 9.95 mm, 0.49 g, 2.64 mm, 2.31mm, and 0.73 mm, respectively. Overall average sound seed percentage was found to be 42.4%. Average 1000-seed weight of six populations was 1.24 g. The highest germination percentage (64.0%) was obtained in Kozan provenance. The average germination percentages and mean germination times of populations in both years were 26.7% and 4.1 days, respectively. In general, about 2 or 4 weeks of prechilling was sufficient to eliminate the nondeep seed dormancy