Development of sessile oak<i> [Quercus</i><i> petraea</i> (Matt.) Liebl.] seed coating material against rodents and evaluation of its performance on seed germination and emergence

Tandogan M., Ozdemir M., Aslan V., Haciyusufoglu A. f., Kul A. a., Sen E., ...More

JOURNAL OF FOREST SCIENCE, vol.71, no.9, pp.417-425, 2025 (ESCI) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 71 Issue: 9
  • Publication Date: 2025
  • Doi Number: 10.17221/42/2025-jfs
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF FOREST SCIENCE
  • Journal Indexes: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, Compendex, Geobase, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Page Numbers: pp.417-425
  • Keywords: acorn, afforestation, repellent, seed coating, sowing
  • Dokuz Eylül University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Protecting sessile oak [Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.] seeds from rodents is crucial to ensure successful germination and emergence in activities such as artificial regeneration, afforestation, and seedling production. This study examined the effects of 12 natural or nature-identical substances, believed to have repellent properties, on the germination, emergence, and survival of sessile oak acorns under both laboratory and field conditions. Acorns were coated using a diatomaceous clay-based pellet system, and a Y-maze experiment was conducted to evaluate rodent behaviour. As a result of the research, among the tested substances, Ferulago confusa and Foeniculum vulgare were recommended as rodent repellents due to their success in laboratory and field trials. Diesel fuel + hair, a conventional repellent, showed poor performance and is not recommended. This study underscores the potential efficacy of natural or nature-identical coatings for protecting seeds from pests in forestry applications.