We present BeechCOSTe52; a database of European beech (Fagus sylvatica) phenotypic measurements for several traits related to fitness measured in genetic trials planted across Europe. The dataset was compiled and harmonized during the COST-Action E52 (2006%2010), and subsequently cross-validated to ensure consistency of measurement data among trials and provenances. Phenotypic traits (height, diameter at breast height, basal diameter, mortality, phenology of spring bud burst and autumn%leaf discoloration) were recorded in 38 trial sites where 217 provenances covering the entire distribution of European beech were established in two consecutive series (1993/95 and 1996/98). The recorded data refer to 862,095 measurements of the same trees aged from 2 to 15 years old over multiple years. This dataset captures the considerable genetic and phenotypic intra-specific variation present in European beech and should be of interest to researchers from several disciplines including quantitative genetics, ecology, biogeography, macroecology, adaptive management of forests and bioeconomy.
COBISS.SI-ID: 5157798
The conservation and sustainable use of forests and forest genetic resources (FGR) is a challenging task for scientists and foresters. Forest management practices can affect diversity on various levels: genetic, species, and ecosystem. Understanding past natural disturbance dynamics and their level of dependence on human disturbances and management practices is essential for the conservation and management of FGR, especially in the light of climate change. In this review, forest management practices and their impact on genetic composition are reviewed, synthesized, and interpreted in the light of existing national and international forest monitoring schemes and concepts from various European projects. There is a clear need and mandate for forest genetic monitoring (FGM), while the requirements thereof lack complementarity with existing forest monitoring. Due to certain obstacles (e.g., the lack of unified FGM implementation procedures across the countries, high implementation costs, large number of indicators and verifiers for FGM proposed in the past), merging FGM with existing forest monitoring is complicated. Nevertheless, FGM is of paramount importance for forestry and the natural environment in the future, regardless of the presence or existence of other monitoring systems, as it provides information no other monitoring system can yield. FGM can provide information related to adaptive and neutral genetic diversity changes over time, on a species and/or on a population...
COBISS.SI-ID: 5027750
We investigated the levels of genetic diversity and population differentiation among core and peripheral populations of Norway spruce along an altitudinal gradient (from inversions to upper tree line) using isoenzymes (ISO) and nuclear simple-sequence repeats (SSR) markers on overlapping set of populations. Twenty-seven to seventy trees from 11 and 7 populations were genotyped with isoenzymes and SSRs, respectively. The results partially conform to the expectations of the central-peripheral hypothesis (CPH) and are consistent for both marker sets. Genetic differentiation among peripheral populations was low but significantly different from zero (FST-ISO = 0.013, FST-SSR = 0.009) and higher than that among core populations (FST-ISO = 0.007, FST-SSR = 0.005), conforming to central peripheral hypothesis. Contrastingly, levels of genetic diversity assessed by both richness and equitability measures did not significantly differ between peripheral and core populations (AR-ISO = 2.20 vs. 2.14, AR-SSR = 17.16 vs. 17.68, HE-ISO = 0.183 vs. 0.185, and HE-SSR = 0.935 vs. 0.935 for peripheral and core populations, respectively).
COBISS.SI-ID: 4994982
Larger number of wild cherry candidate plus trees in the entire area of Slovenia were identified and recorded. Detailed seven-scale evaluation of their vitality, stem straightness, crown size, constriction, cylindrical trunk growth, trunk warping, branch diameter, branching angle and forking resulted in the selection of 107 trees possessing the most desirable characteristics. Selected trees are relatively large and of phenotypically superior quality. The established register of wild cherry plus trees in Slovenia represents a selection of superior individual phenotypes that will be used as a source of parental trees to establish a first-generation seed orchard and then, if appropriate, as a source of superior material for the next breeding steps and further breeding programs.
COBISS.SI-ID: 5272486
The 2014 ice storm and subsequent bark beetle outbreaks damaged or devastated large areas of forest in Slovenia. In order to regenerate these areas, it is necessary to determine which tree species should be used for regeneration and which species are appropriate for achieving forest management goals in changing climatic conditions. Based on an analysis of forest site types and forest communities in the areas most affected by the ice storm, we prepared a list of potential tree species according to site and classified them into three categories: principal or key species (anticipated share in the growing stock up to 100 %), accompanying species (share up to 30 %), and minor tree species (share up to 10 %). The selection of species appropriate for regeneration will be demanding and will depend on several factors. In addition to the suitability of tree species to particular sites, their economic importance, the condition of forests undergoing regeneration, availability of forest reproduction material, regeneration method and cost, and the extent of available assets will also have to be considered. Monoculture stands should be avoided, and as many site-appropriate tree species as possible should be used to reduce risks. Other native species, as well as non-native species, should also be tested. Increasing the species diversity of forests will significantly add to their resilience and realization of their multi-purpose roles.
COBISS.SI-ID: 4773030