•In its natural distribution area Turkish hazel has been overexploited because of its valuable wood and can only be found in small and isolated populations.•Therefore, we examined the genetic ...structure and variation of Turkish hazel covering most of its natural distribution area in Asia Minor, the Caucasus, and the Balkan Peninsula.•Altogether, 689 Turkish hazel trees from 25 populations based on 15 nuclear and five chloroplast microsatellite markers were studied.•Both data sets revealed distinct genetic structures of Turkish hazel in its natural distribution range, suggesting separate refugia and migration pathways during the Holocene.•Medium to high level genetic variation was found, with somewhat lower values in Georgia and Turkey compared to the Balkan populations.•Overall, our results highlight needs to delineate provenance regions, identify conservation units and seed stands for Turkish hazel which are essential for species conservation, provenance research and possible assisted migration attempts.•Based on our results each country is able now to start the conservation programs and select GCUs for Turkish hazel.
Climate change is already affecting all forest ecosystems and threatening species therein. By establishing mixed forests incorporating other tree species (e. g. scattered broadleaves) adaptation of forest stands to changing environmental conditions can be improved and the risks minimized. Turkish hazel (Corylus colurna L.) has been currently discussed as a valuable so-called alternative tree species in some European regions because it is well adapted to difficult environmental conditions. However, in its natural distribution area Turkish hazel has been overexploited because of its valuable wood and can only be found in small and isolated populations. Therefore, we examined the genetic structure and variation of Turkish hazel covering most of its natural distribution range in Asia Minor, the Caucasus, and the Balkan Peninsula. Altogether, 689 Turkish hazel trees from 25 populations were analysed at 15 nuclear and five chloroplast microsatellite markers. Both data sets revealed distinct genetic clusters of Turkish hazel in its natural distribution range, suggesting separate refugia and migration pathways during the Holocene. Medium to high level genetic variation was found, with somewhat lower values in Georgia and Turkey compared to the Balkan populations. Overall, our results highlight the need to delineate provenance regions, identify gene conservation units (GCUs) and seed stands for Turkish hazel which are essential for species conservation, provenance research and possible assisted migration attempts. Based on our results each country is able now to start conservation programs and select GCUs for Turkish hazel.
Pinus peuce (Macedonian pine) is considered a valuable ornamental tree that is frequently planted in parks and gardens, especially in Western Europe. This endemic pine is one of the most valuable ...conifer species in its native range, which currently consists of only two disjunct populations restricted to small mountainous areas of the Balkans and is listed as a near-threatened species. The reproduction of Macedonian pine by seed is limited, so in vitro propagation methods have emerged as a promising tool for large-scale propagation. The objective of this study was to develop an improved system for the micropropagation of P. peuce from juvenile plant material using a short-term liquid cytokinin pulse. For that, explants derived from 4-week-old seedlings were pulse-treated with different concentrations of N6-benzyladenine (BA) for 1 or 2 h to stimulate the induction of axillary buds. The highest axillary shoot formation was achieved with 222 µM BA pulse treatment, with an average number of ~six shoots per explant. Elongated shoots (≥10 mm) were detached from the explants and pulse-treated with 0.27 or 1.08 mM α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) or 0.25 or 0.98 mM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) for 1 or 2 h. IBA was more effective than NAA and led to a maximum rooting percentage (up to 40%) and the highest number of acclimatized plants (15–20%). Rooted plants were successfully transferred to ex vitro conditions.
Understanding the processes occurring in old-growth forests and identifying their key aspects can significantly enrich modern forestry practices with innovative ideas and concepts. The natural ...regeneration process in beech old-growth forests exhibits distinct spatial heterogeneity and temporal variability. To define the key drivers that influence the spatial heterogeneity of regeneration processes and their effects, research was conducted in three beech old-growth forests situated in Serbia, Southeastern Europe: Felješana, Vinatovača, and Kukavica. In each old-growth forest, a network of circular sample plots with an area of 0.1 ha (totaling 45 plots) was established to gather data on structural characteristics and ecological conditions. Within each circular sample plot, data on the regeneration layer were collected on four square sample plots of 1 m
2
(180 in total). Using linear mixed models, the key drivers of spatial heterogeneity of regeneration processes in beech old-growth forests were analyzed. Based on the results, several key factors contribute to the highly heterogeneous distribution of seedlings, including the canopy, the presence of a middle layer comprising young trees, ground vegetation, and soil stoniness, while a significant influence of the combined effect of the canopy and the presence of a middle layer of young trees is also defined. The spatial heterogeneity of the regeneration process is also represented through the assessment of the ratio between the abundance of one-year-old and older seedlings. The dominance of one-year-old seedlings intensifies with increased canopy density (in instances of very dense canopy (1.0), the ratio of one-year-old and older seedlings is 70:30%). Seedling growth characteristics are shaped by multiple factors, including the influence of the canopy, the presence of the middle layer of young trees, slope, and soil stoniness, with a substantial combined influence of the canopy and the middle layer of young trees. This indicates that the spatial variability of the regeneration process in beech old-growth forests is primarily driven by factors with a substantial individual influence, which may also act combined. It is of paramount importance to understand these factors and determine their influence on the regeneration process in managed beech forests.
The paper presents research results on quality and assortment structure of uneven-aged beech high forests in Central Serbia. Eleven representative stands of submontane beech forest (Fagenion ...moesiacae submontanum B. Jov. 1976 ) and montane beech forest (Fagenion moesiacae montanum B. Jov. 1976) were selected. Their altitude ranges from 450 m to 1350 m. Site class ranges from I/II to III/IV, canopy closure from 0.7 to 0.9 and volume from 290 m3/ha to 522 m3/ha. Total area of the stands is 241.9 ha. Sample plots of 500 m2 were established in a systematic grid of 100 x 100 m. From silvicultural aspect, 16% of the standing volume (384 m3/ha) is class one, 39% is class two and 45% is class three. From the aspect of forest utilization 37% of the volume is class one, 34% is class two, 19% is class three, and 10% is class four. In the assortment structure of the average stand volume, industrial wood accounts for 42%, cordwood 48% and waste 10%. It has been concluded that beech high forests in Serbia have unfavourable quality and assortment structure. This situation should be improved in future by taking adequate management measures.
In the winter of 2014/2015, an impactful natural disaster hit the eastern region of Serbia, leading to substantial forest tree damage due to ice breaks and falls. This catastrophe resulted in the ...near-complete destruction of artificial conifer stands established on beech sites, and varying degrees of damage to natural stands. In response, approximately 2000 hectares of land had to be clear-cut, inducing significant ecosystem transformations that may have altered the floristic composition. This study involved the inventarisation of vascular flora within the clear-cut areas, which was then compared to the floristic composition at similar site condition on location "Vinatovača" beech primeval forest. The key objectives of this research were to assess the extent of degradation experienced by natural beech sites and explore the prospects and courses for establishing natural, indigenous forest ecosystems through natural succession. Following clear-cutting, beech sites exhibited notably greater floristic diversity in contrast to the natural beech primeval forests. Considerable area of beech sites turned into meadows or were weed covered. The study identified 176 taxa of vascular flora on the clearcut sites (107 taxa in the premival forest). In addition to plants from mesophilic beech communities, plants from the aliance of thermophilic communities are also present. The identified plants were categorised into two groups: Pteridophyta, with only 2 species, and Spermatophyta, encompassing 174 species (in contrast, the premival forest had 10 species of Pteridophyta and 97 species of Spermatophyta). The Spermatophyta plants were further classified into two classes: Dicotyledons, represented by 149 species, and Monocotyledons, represented by 25 species (in the premival forest, Dicotyledons accounted for 76 species, and Monocotyledons 21 species).
