This study investigated mineral element concentrations of acorns in Quercus acutissima and Quercus serrata seed orchard, so that to estimate the variation of these species based on the chemical composition in different clones from plus trees. The acorns were collected from ten clones of each species grown in the same clonal seed orchard. The nutritional concentration of acorns was significantly different between the clones and species. The concentration of nutrient for the whole acorn followed in this general sequence: P > K > Na > Mg > Ca > Mn > Fe > Zn > Cu . The mineral concentrations of acorns in clones of Q. acutissima and Q. serrata contained P (494 to 684 and 541 to 672 mg/100 g), K (114 to 569 and 140 to 251 mg/100 g), Na (57 to 121 and 49 to 85 mg/100 g), Mg (29 to 37 and 26 to 42 mg/100 g), Ca (10 to 53 and 26 to 68 mg/100 g), Mn (0.5 to 3.4 and 1.8 to 4.5 mg/100 g), Fe (0.7 to 1.1 and 0.0 to 2.2 mg/100 g), Zn (0.34 to 0.81 and 0.38 to 0.84 mg/100 g), and Cu (0.13 to 0.40 and 0.09 to 0.34 mg/100 g) respectively. Even though acorns of Q. serrata are smaller in size than Q. acutissima, acorns of Q. serrata contained significantly higher concentration of phosphorus, calcium, iron and manganese than Q. acutissima. Based on the mineral composition of the acorns, this study has shown that the clones of Q. acutissima and Q. serrata have different ability to accumulate mineral nutrients which could indicate the variation of Quercus species in terms of mineral acquisition and accumulation.

Variations in antioxidant capacity of leaves and characteristics of seed germination among five Hibiscus hamabo populations in Korea were evaluated. While the leaves of H. hamabo from Shincheon contained highest Na concentration, those from Hado and Ohzo does lowest. MDA content and SOD activity didn't show significant difference among populations, but total protein and anthocyanin content were significantly different among five populations. The filled seed rates of five populations were ranged from 92.0 to 98.7%, and the moisture contents of seeds from Shinyang and Soando were lower than that of R. syriacus (5.18%). The fresh weights of H. hamabo from Hado and Ohzo were the highest and those of seeds from Shinyang and Soando were the lowest. Significant variations among H. hamabo populations were detected for all seed germination characters: percentage of germination, average germination time and germination rate and uniformity. SOD activities of seeds from Onpyoung and Soando were the highest of five populations, and total protein concentrations of seeds in Ohzo and Shinyang populations were higher than those of other populations. H. hamabo is considered exposed to salt stress and all characteristics of seed germinations were inferior to other species.