The effects of temperature and moisture content on physiological and biochemical characteristics of Chinese Fir and Masson Pine seeds were investigated during a year storage period. The investigating indexes are germination percentage, the relative electrical conductivity, SOD and POD activity as well as MDA content. The results showed that 1) the germination percentage of both Chinese Fir and Masson Pine seeds were found to reduce over the storage duration when stored in different temperature and moisture content regime. But there are significant difference in the extent of reduction among different temperature and moisture content regime. The best storage condition for Chinese Fir seeds is in the temperature of -30 ℃ or -18 ℃ with the moisture content of 4%, and the best storage condition for Masson Pine seeds is in the temperature of 3 ℃ and -18 ℃ with moisture content of 4%. 2) The relative electrical conductivity, SOD and POD activity as well as MDA content of both Chinese Fir and Masson Pine seeds were changed slowly while stored in low temperature and low moisture content. When the storage temperature and moisture content were increased, however, the relative electrical conductivity and MDA content gradually increased and SOD and POD activity showed a tendency of reduction. 3) When stored in -30 ℃ for 360 days, the seed of Chinese Fir with a moisture content of 4% has the smallest deteriorative rate whereas -18 ℃ is the case of Masson Pine seeds with the same moisture content.
