Morphological-biological properties of fruit and seed of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) growing at different altitudes

U radu se istražuju morfološko-biološke značajke plodova i sjemena bukve sa različitih nadmorskih visina. Istraživanja su provedena na sedam lokaliteta na području Velebita sa rasponom nadmorskih visina od 521-1535 m n.v. Tijekom jeseni 2007. godine sakupljeni su plodovi i obavljena je procjena stupnja uroda. Analize sjemenena obavljene su u laboratoriju za sjemenarstvo i rasadničarstvo Zavoda za ekologiju I uzgajanje šuma Šumarskog fakulleta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu. Svi elementi kvalitete sjemena ispitivani su u skladu sa pravilima ISTA (International Rules for Seed Testing, 2006). Prosječni vitalitet bukvice dobiven metodom tetrazola iznosio je 81,4%. Utvrđena je pozitivna i značajna (r= 0,69452) korelacija između nadmorske visine i šturog (nevitalnog) sjemena bukve. Prosječna težina 1000 sjemenki iznosila je 118,9 g. Korelacija između nadmorske visine i težine 1000 sjemenki je negativna i značajna (r= -0,6315). Prosječna težina bukvice sa svih sedam lokaliteta iznosila je 0,24 g. Težina bukvice statistički se značajno razlikovala s obzirom na istraživane lokalitete. Dobivena je statistički značajna razlika u duljini bukvice s obzirom na stupanj uroda osrednji i vrlo dobar odnosno dobar i vrlo dobar. Prosječna duljina bukvice kod osrednjeg uroda iznosila je 14,72 mm, kod dobrog uroda 15,05 mm odnosno kod vrlo dobrog 16,03 mm. Ukupna laboratorijska klijavost bukvice nakon 17 tjedana ispitivanja u pijesku na konstantnoj temperaturi od 5 C bila je najveća na lokalitetu Krecelj (39,3%) a najmanja na lokalitetu Velika stražbenica (34,8%) dok je prosjećna klijavost iznosila 37,3%. Korelacija između nadmorske visine i laboratorijske klijavosti sjemena je pozitivna i značajna (r= 0,48350). S porastom nadmorske visine provenijencije značajno se povećava laboratorijska klijavost bukvice.The paper examines morphological-biological characteristics of beech fruit and seed growing at different altitudes. Research was conducted in seven localities in the area of Velebit at altitudes ranging from 521 to 1,535 m a.s.l. Fruits were collected and yield rates were assessed during autumn 2007. Seed analyses were performed in the seed and nursery production laboratory of the Department of Forest Ecology and Silviculture of the Faculty of Forestry of Zagreb University. All the elements of seed quality were tested in accordance with the ISTA rules (International Rules for Seed Testing, 2006). The average beech nut viability obtained with the tetrazolium method was 81.4%. A positive and significant (r= 0.69452) correlation between the altitude and empty (non-vital) beech seed was confirmed. The average weight of 1,000 seeds was 118.9 g. A correlation between altitude and weight of 1,000 seeds was negative and significant (r= -0.6315). The average beechnut weight from all the seven localities was 0.24 g. There were statistically significant differences in beechnut weight in relation to the localities under study. A statistically significant difference in beechnut length was established with regard to yield rate described as average and very good, or good and very good. The average beechnut length at average yield amounted to 14.72 mm, at good yield it was 15.05 mm, and at very good yield it was 16.03 mm. The overall laboratory beech seed germination after 17 weeks of testing in sand at a constant temperature of 5 C was the highest in the Krecelj locality (39.3%) and the lowest in the Velika Stražbenica locality (34.8%), whereas average germination was 37.3%. A correlation between altitude and laboratory seed germination was positive and significant (r= 0.48350). With a rise in the altitude of provenances, laboratory germination of beechnut increases significantly