Changes in formaldehyde contents of germinating acorns of Quercus cerris L. under low temperature stress conditions

Acorns of Quercus cerris L., after saturation with water and storage at -20 degrees C, were studied for changes in their contents of endogenous formaldehyde and its potential precursor and generator compounds. For the measurement of formaldehyde, after conversion to formaldemethone and some methyl acceptor and donor substances, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were used. First, the amount of formaldehyde was drastically decreased. Having reached a minimum value within three to five days of the beginning of low temperature storage, a higher steady-state than the control acorns was recorded. Trigonelline and gamma-amino-butyric acid in seedleaf extracts were identified by matrix assisted laser desorption-ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS).