Efect of different eastern beech (Fagus orientalis lipsky.) populations on seed chemical composition

Eastern beech (Fagus orientalis L.) is our ecologically and economically important primary species with a wide spread in Turkey. The seeds are as important as the beech forests. Seed chemical composition can provide information about seed quality and the region where the seed is located. In this study, it is aimed to analyze the effects of growing environments on seed chemical composition by making analysis to determine the chemical composition of seeds. Study; Eastern beech seeds collected from 6 different populations (Sinop, Sinop-Türkeli, Sinop-Ayancık, Kastamonu-Cide, Kastamonu-Bozkurt, Kastamonu-İnebolu) were used. Total moisture and dry matter content, total mineral content, and mineral substance analysis, total fixed fat and fatty acid composition analyzes were carried out with the XRF device. In addition, total phenolic compounds, total flavonoid substances and total antioxidant capacity analyzes were performed to determine protein determinations, sugar determinations, starch determinations and antioxidant activity in seeds. As a result of the study; the highest moisture content was found in the seeds originated Sinop-Ayancık with 16.33% and the lowest moisture content was found in the seeds originated Sinop-Türkeli with 9.2%. It was determined that the highest mineral substance content in dry weight was 4.76% in the seeds originated Sinop and 4.14% in lowest in seeds originated Sinop-Ayancık. On dry weight, constant oil amounts were found to be 47.51% in the highest the seeds originated Sinop-Türkeli and 42.66% in the lowest the seeds originated Kastamonu-İnebolu. The rate of protein on dry weight was found to be 21.75% in the highest the seeds originated Sinop-Ayancık and 18.84% in the lowest Sinop-Türkeli. The highest and lowest total antioxidant contents found in seeds on dry weight are; 2.95 mg AE / g was found in the Sinop-Turkeli population and 1.76 mg AE / g in the Kastamonu-Cide population. Sugar content on dry weight was found to be 4.22% in the highest the seeds originated Sinop-Türkeli and 1.18% in the lowest the seeds originated Sinop. Starch rates on dry weight were found to be the same in the highest Sinop-Türkeli and Kastamonu-Bozkurt seeds, and it was found to be 0.80%, while the lowest was in the seeds originated Sinop-Ayancık 0.45%. In the direction of the data obtained, it has been observed that the chemical components of the seed vary depending on the environment in which it is grown and the seed characteristics are under the influence of different factors. In addition, thanks to rich in fat, protein and mineral of the seeds, it might be suggested nutritious and beneficial for human health.