GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT DYNAMICS OF TERMINAL SPROUT IN PROVENANCE TRIALS OF SILVER FIR (ABIES ALBA MILL.) OF PLANTS IN CROATIA

Jedna od najvrijednijih vrsta četinjača u Hrvatskoj je obična jela (Abies alba Mill.) koja zajedno s bukvom i smrekom raste na približno 150 000 ha šuma Like i Gorskoga Kotara na kojima se preborno gospodari. Prva istraživanja uspijevanja različitih provenijencija obične jele u Hrvatskoj započela su sakupljanjem sjemena u jesen 1994. godine. Sakupljeni su uzorci sjemena iz 18 priznatih i izabranih sjemenskih sastojina u Hrvatskoj i u dvije slovenske sjemenske sastojine, te je osnovan rani test provenijencija u rasadniku šumarskog instituta, Jastrebarsko. U svrhu daljnjih istraživanja na području Uprave šuma Podružnica Delnice, Šumarija Fužine, lokalitet Brloško, tijekom 2000. godine i u rasadniku Instituta 2001. godine osnovani su poljski pokusi. U radu su prikazani rezultati istraživanja rasta terminalnog izbojka biljaka starosti osam godina. Prosječni prirast biljaka u pokusu "A-polje" u 2002. iznosio je 45,1 mm, a na pokusu provenijencija "Brloško" 156,8 mm. Analizom varijance utvrđeno je postojanje statistički značajnih razlika između provenijencija u dinamici njihova rasta.One of the most valuable conifer tree species in Croatia is Silver fir (Abies alba Mill.). Growing mostly in Lika and Gorski kotar region in pure or mixed with beech and spruce stands it covers area of approximately 150 000 ha, managed using tree selection system. First research on growth of different provenances of silver fir in Croatia begun with seed collection in the autumn of 1994. Collected were seeds from 18 Recognized Seed Stands in Croatia and two from Slovenia and an early provenance test was established in the nursery of Forest Research Institute. Further research involved establishment of field trial in the year 2000 at the locality Brloško on the territory of Forest Management Unit Delnice, Forestry Office Fužine, and in the year 2001 on the Forest Research Institute in Jastrebarsko. In this paper we present results of the research of growth of terminal sprout on fir seedlings aged eight years. Average height increment in the year 2002 for the plants in "A-Field" provenance trial was 45.1 mm, while for the provenance trial "Brloško" average height increment amounted to 156.8 mm. Analysis of variance showed that statistically significant difference exists in growth dynamics of different provenances

In situ conservation of Populus nigra

P. nigra is a typical pioneer tree species of the riparian forest ecosystem. Therefore, the in situ gene conservation strategies and methods developed for other forest tree species are not always suitable. In fact, successful in situ conservation strategies for black poplar need to consider the current status and management of existing populations as well as the physical dynamics of the natural habitat formed by the river. Furthermore, conservation relies heavily on the potential to restore entire floodplain ecosystems, as well as the development of appropriate strategies for the management of restored sites. These factors not only determine the objectives of designated in situ conservation units, but also the methods and costs of the approach that is ultimately adopted

Indicators for monitoring genetic diversity

International audienc

Indicators for monitoring the evolution of Populus nigra genetic diversity in situ

International audienc

Black poplar: A model for gene resource conservation in forest ecosystems

Conservation of genetic resources of forest trees has become a major objective for the management of forests. Much theoretical work has been devoted to the subject, and implementation has already started at the local, national, or international scales. Poplars are probably the most representative and threatened forest tree species of old natural floodplain forests in the temperate zone. Gene conservation needs to be integrated with intensive breeding activities, habitat conservation and restoration. For Populus nigra, while research in genetics and ecology is reinforced, a combined conservation strategy is applied at the European scale; simultaneously, the conservation of riparian ecosystems is also a priority. Research and application benefit from each other. The question now is the evaluation of such an integrated strategy. Criteria and indicators for the follow-up of gene resource management are progressively developed, but still need to be tested on the operational scale