Variability of morphological parameters of one- and two-year-old seedlings of different sessile oak half-sib lines

Abstract

This research aimed to determine the variability of the part of the sessile oak gene pool from the area of the Natural Monument ?Kosutnjak Forest? at the level of one- and two-year-old seedlings, in the progeny test established in the nursery of the Faculty of Forestry. The research was conducted with one-year-old and two-year-old seedlings of 10 half-sib lines of the sessile oak. The heights and root collar diameters were measured, and the survival of the seedlings at the end of the second growth period, as well as the annual height and diameter growth, were determined. The results of descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance and Fisher?s least significant differences test, as well as multivariate analyzes - cluster and analysis of the main components were also presented in the research. The obtained results indicate a satisfactory level of genetic variability, which represents a good starting point for the realization of ex situ conservation of part of the gene pool, by establishing a field trial in the area of Kosutnjak and/or by introducing seedlings in smaller or larger groups to this area. In this way, part of the gene pool of the starting population, represented by seedlings of different half-sib lines, is permanently preserved, the number of the starting population increases, and conditions are created for continuous scientific and research work.