Genotypic variability of morphological characteristics of English oak (Quercus robur L) acorn

This paper deals with the acorn morphology (length, diameter and mass) analyzed in seventeen English oak genotypes (Quercus robur L)from the English Oak Clonal Seed Orchard Banov Brod (Srem,Vojvodina). The highest values of acorn mass and length were measured in genotype 5. The largest diameters were measured in genotypes 6 and 21. Genotype 35 had the lowest acorn mass, length and diameter. The results from this study should serve as guidelines for the selection of trees yielding fruits possessing the desirable morphological characteristics

Naftenske kiseline - alternativni stimulatori ožiljavanja kod mikroizbojaka bagrema

The study describes the rooting effect of naphthenates and their fractions on in vitro grown Robinia pseudoacacia L. shoots. Natural naphthenic acids have been isolated by alkaline extraction from middle fraction of crude oil type “Velebit” from Vojvodina, characterized and fractionated. Black locust shoot bases were immersed in ACM medium [Ahuja, 1984] without agar supplemented with either 10, 50 or 100 µM of basic naphthenate preparation, naphthenate fractions obtained by extraction at different pHs (pH 2, pH 4, pH 7 and pH 9), or indole3-butyric acid (IBA). Treated shoots have been then grown on hormone-free medium for four weeks. Significant differences among test treatments were recorded during the third and the fourth week of in vitro cultivation. Final evaluation was performed on the basis of rooting percentage after four weeks of cultivation. The highest rooting percentage (>70%) was achieved after the treatment with solution containing 50 µM of IBA. However, treatment with 10 µM of naphthenate preparation achieved also positive effect on rooting (>60%). Average rooting percentage in the control treatment was just 45%. Our results with black locust confirm previous results gained with some other agricultural and forest tree species that naphthenates have the potential to stimulate rooting in shoots and cuttings.Rad opisuje efekat naftenata na ožiljavanje mikroizbojaka bagrema in vitro. Naftenske kiseline su izolovane baznom ekstrakcijom iz srednje frakcije sirove nafte tipa “Velebit”, koja je opisana u ranijim radovima. Donji deo mikroizbojka je uronjen jedan minut u tečni ACM medijum [Ahuja, 1984] u koji je dodato 10, 50 ili 100 µM osnovne mešavine natrijum-naftenata ili njenih pojedinih frakcija dobijenih ekstrakcijom na različitim pH (pH 2, pH 4, pH 7 ili pH 9), odnosno 10, 50, 100 µM ili 1g/l indol-3-buterne kiseline (IBA). Kontrolni tretman je činio ACM medijum bez ispitivanih aktivnih materija. Tretirani mikroizbojci su zatim gajeni na čvrstoj ACM podlozi bez hormona. Značajne razlike među ispitivanim tretmanima su zabeležene tokom treće i četvrte nedelje uzgoja u in vitro uslovima. Konačna ocena je izvedena na osnovu procenta ožiljavanja nakon četiri nedelje uzgoja. Najviši procenat ožiljavanja je postignut rastvorom sa 10 µM natrijum naftenata, nakon čega je ostvaren značajan pozitivan efekat na procenat ožiljavanja (>60%) u odnosu na kontrolni tretman (oko 45%). Rezultati do kojih smo došli kod bagrema potvrđuju ranije rezultate koji su dobijeni kod poljoprivrednih i šumskih drvenastih vrsta o mogućnosti stimulacije ožiljavanja mikroizbojaka i reznica solima naftenskih kiselina

Identification and Perceived Value of Ecosystem Services of Urban Green Areas. Case Study: Kamenički Park in Novi Sad, Serbia

Urban parks, as one of the most significant urban green areas (UGA), bring many direct or indirect benefits, including but not limited to ecosystem services (ES) (Mexia et al. 2018). These services are often generalized, unquantified and poorly supported by empirical evidence and their negative consequences – disservices are rarely mentioned (Roman et al., 2021; Pataki et al., 2011). In order to improve planning, design and management of UGA that can increase their environmental benefits (Xie et al. 2019), better understanding and additional field research of ES and disservices is required. As a result of a survey of employees of the Institute for Nature Conservation of Vojvodina Province that manages the park and on-site users, this study represents a research of the perceived value of generated ES on the example of Kamenički park in Novi Sad, as there are no studies on the actual value of those ES. After identifying major ES, the employees and users evaluated them by their perception on a scale of 1 – the ES is well provided, 2 – service is provided but can be enhanced and 3 – the service is not provided, but has potential. Employees mainly emphasized regulation and supporting services (regulation of air quality, noise reduction, wind protection, maintaining biodiversity), but also cultural services (educational role, recreation and enjoying nature, spiritual peace and prosperity). Users opted mainly for cultural services (recreation and enjoying nature and inspiration for culture, art and design), but also for supporting services like maintaining biodiversity. The specific location, valuable natural and cultural-historical characteristics of Kamenički park contribute to the provision of numerous ES, but also offer the opportunity to develop additional ones that are currently not represented or are not sufficiently provided. The opinions and needs of stakeholders and users regarding ES can be a guideline in planning in accordance with the ES, which is a step to sustainable cities. Quantifying the degree to which various ES are related to plant diversity and structure would provide evidence of the ability to manipulate designed ecosystems to maximize the benefits they provide to urban landscapes (Nighswander et al. 2021)

A comparative analysis of stomata and leaf trichome characteristics in Quercus robur L. genotypes

The objective of this study was to determine genotype variability of leaf trichome and stoma characteristics. Leaves were sampled from seventeen pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L) genotypes originating from clonal seed orchard Banov Brod (Srem, the Vojvodina Province). The pedunculate oak has hypostomatal leaves. Statistically significant differences were found for the dimensions and density of stomata. Genotype variability of stomatal dimensions was less pronounced in comparison with their density (CV = 8.88%). Stomata number ranged from 530 to 791 per mm2 of leaf area; genotypes 18 and 25 could be distinguished from the others for the highest stomata number per leaf unit area, genotype 35 for the lowest number. In all genotypes, only solitary eglandular trichomes were observed on the adaxial leaf surface while both solitary eglandular and uniseriate glandular hairs were present on the abaxial surface. Single glandular trichomes were observed in all genotypes, while some of them were characterized by the presence of two (genotypes 4, 5, 6, 16, 22, 25, 28, 29, 30, 35, 38, 40, and 85) or three (genotypes 16, 25, 35) hairs joined by their basal cells

The investigation of morphological characteristics of willow species in different environmental conditions

Alternative or renewable energy is a modern strategy with a good per­spective in the nearest future. There are several directions of renewable energy development that depend on climatic, economic and technological opportunities of a region. The perspective choice for areas with moderate climate is bioenergy. One of the bioenergy directions is agro forestry based on short rotation coppice plantations (SRC) of trees, like willow, poplar and others. The goal of experiments was the assessment of the potential of different willow species for the obtaining of energy in two climatic zones and on two types of soils of Belarus. For this purpose several morphological characteristics were metered: height of plants, biomass, diameter and number of sprouts. The field experiments were conducted on two types of soils: post-mining peaty soils in Grodno region and on degraded peaty soils in Brest region of Belarus. The same soils are very problematic for growing of traditional agricultural crops, thus willow production is a good alternative for biomass production of energy as well as for the reclamation of these soils. In our experiments the following species of willow were tested (Salix alba, Salix viminalis, Salix dasyclados, Salix aurita) that may grow on peaty soils at the natural conditions. The most popular species for modern selection of SRC of willow is Salix viminalis. Nevertheless, the most suitable morphological characteristics on post-mining peaty soils were established for plants of Salix dasyclados and on degraded peaty soils for the plants of Salix alba. The unfavorable parameters at the both type of soils were identified for the plants of Salix aurita. However, it is necessary to take into account that the used species are more popular for natural wetlands and in our experiments plants have best results of survival of cutting and rates of growth at the beginning of vegetation. In accordance with these facts Salix aurita may not be used for energy plantation directly, but it is interesting for hybridization with other species. Our results have shown that perspective hybrids for peaty soils may be for instance Salix aurita x Salix dasyclados and Salix aurita x Salix alba

Improvement of production of high-yield poplar varieties seedlings by mycorrhiza application

Research related to the effects of treatment by mycorrhiza preparations Ectovit, Rhodovit (preparations Symbio-m Ltd., Czech Rep.) and their combination on growth of four high-yield poplar clones of Populus deltoides and one variety of Populus x euramericana are presented in this paper. In order to make more accurate assessment of mycorrhiza effect, soil characteristics such as morphology, texture and chemical composition were determined. The study results indicate that mycorrhized cuttings had the same or the better survival in all the study clones compared to the control. The application of the preparation Ectovit and Rhodovit resulted averagely in the first class planting stock of all the study clones. The combination of the preparations Ectovit and Rhodovit produced averagely the first class planting stock only of the clone Populus x euramericana

Variability of anatomical-physiological traits in black locust clones - Robinia pseudoacacia L

Variability within R. pseudoacacia species represents an important factor in selection of fast-growing genotypes. Therefore, it is important to identify superior individuals according to their anatomical and physiological traits. This paper presents the results of a study of genotype variability of the main leaf anatomical (frequency, length and width of stomata, leaflet thickness among veins, leaflet thickness on the main vein, mesophyll thickness, length and width of vascular bundle of main vein) and physiological (leaf area, photosynthetic pigments content and content of N P, K, Ca, Na) parameters among five clones of Robinia pseudoacacia L. Significant interclonal variations were observed in the investigated parameters. Clone R-56 had the highest N, P, and K concentrations, the largest mesophyll volume and the highest pigment concentration. We concluded that the clone R-56, although without a remarkable leaf area, possesses the ability for high photosynthetic production. The results are going to be used in further work on selection

Variability of acorn anatomical characteristics in Quercus robur L. genotypes

The aim of this study was to examine variability of acorn anatomical characteristics in seventeen Quercus robur L. genotypes. Acorns were collected in clonal seed orchard Banov Brod (Srem, Vojvodina, Serbia). Microscopic measurements were done for pericarp (total thickness, thickness of exocarp and mesocarp), seed coat (total thickness, thickness of outer epidermis, parenchyma, and inner epidermis), and embryo axis (diameter, thickness of cortical region, and diameter of stellar zone). Obtained results revealed certain divergence between genotypes. The thickness of pericarp varied from 418 to 559 mm (genotypes 20 and 22, respectively). On average, the participation of exocarp in the total thickness of pericarp was 36.3%, of mesocarp 61.0%, while of endocarp 2.6%. The thickness of seed coat for individual genotypes ranged from 71 mm (genotype 28) to 157 mm (genotype 38). In addition, anatomic parameters of embryo axis varied among studied genotypes. The lowest cortical zone thickness and stellar zone diameter were measured in genotype 40, while the highest values in genotype 33

Photosynthetic response and tolerance of three willow species to cadmium exposure in hydroponic culture

Three willow species (Salix alba, Salix matsudana and Salix nigra) were exposed to very high cadmium (Cd) concentrations in order to define some physiological traits related to high biomass production. Plants were grown hydroponically under semi-controlled conditions (greenhouse). It was assumed that leaves accumulate different amounts of Cd in relation to their age due to the specific occurrence of symptoms generated by Cd accumulation. The rate of photosynthesis and concentration of photosynthetic pigments in young and old leaves was correlated with biomass production in order to ascertain their significance as indicators of plant performance at sites contaminated with Cd. Changes in the photosynthetic parameters induced by treatments depended on the concentration of Cd in the nutrient solution, the species of willow and leaf age. Fv/Fm ratios were not considerably changed in treated plants, indicating preserved activity of PSII. According to results presented in this work, the Fv/Fm ratio was a less sensitive indicator of Cd stress in willows than the rate of photosynthesis and pigment concentration. High tolerance to applied treatments estimated on the basis of biomass production of S. nigra and S. matsudana irrespective of Cd concentration in the growth substrate might indicate their potential in the reclamation of Cd-contaminated sites. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. No. III 043007