The influence of origin on the quality of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) seedlings

Abstract

Oak forests are among the most ecologically and economically significant in Europe. Due to the consequences of climate change on the environment, successful restoration of these ecosystems has been reduced in recent times. In order to increase the regeneration of oak forests, the analysis of quality parameters of one hundred and twenty pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) seedlings of ten different half-sib families have been carried out in the nursery of the Institute of Forestry in Belgrade (Serbia). This study showed the influence of origin (mother trees) on the morphological characteristics of pedunculate oak seedlings. A high degree of variability has been determined for root collar diameter, height, weight of aboveground part, root weight, Roller’s sturdiness coefficient and seedlings quality index. The largest variability has been determined for the height of seedlings where a large number of transitional half-sib families is noticed between the largest and the smallest values. A small number of half-sib families (33.33%) showed high quality of seedlings, based on the cluster analysis of quality parameters. There was a high degree of correlation between root weight and aboveground part weight, giving the potential for the selection of quality reproductive material with a properly formed habitus. There was a high degree of correlation between root weight and aboveground part weight, which suggests the potential for selecting quality reproductive material with a properly formed habitus. This study facilitates the selection of suitable reproductive material sources for regenerating pedunculate oak forests within this particular region of distribution.