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PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF CROATIAN AND RHENISH- PALATINE SESSILE OAK (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) PROVENANCE TRIAL

Sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) is economically one of the most important tree species in Croatia and in Rhinalend-Palatinate (Southwest Germany). The growing stock volume of sessile oak is 10 % of the total growing stock in Croatian forests and nearly 20 % in Rhineland-Palatinate. It can be found in many plant communities. Because of its broad ecological niche sessile oak is an excellent model for studying adaptation to various environmental conditions. Climate models predict the shift of forest tree species with regard to altitude and latitude. Due to rapid climatic changes, the more intense common oak decline is expected. Considering sessile oak tolerance to drought, this tree species could replace common oak on drier habitats. An international provenance trial of Croatian and Rhenish-Palatine sessile oak provenances was established in the spring of 2019 in the greenhouse of the Croatian Forest Research Institute. The acorns were harvested in the fall of 2018, and the provenances were selected with respect to the habitat and climatic conditions of the original stands and to cover the broad area of sessile oak. In April, the acorns were sown in sand and after germination they were transferred to a mixture of substrate and forest soil. During the first year, the germination, survival and height growth of young plants was observed. The first results show variability in germination and survival of provenances. Provenances originating from Rhineland-Palazinate have better germination and survival rate in comparison to Croatian provenances. The genetic variability of sessile oak in Croatia and Rhineland-Palatinate has not been studied so far and further research on this provenance trial will provide better insight into the genetic variability and adaptability of the sessile oak provenances to local habitat conditions. The results of the research will provide guidelines for the preservation of the gene pool of this important tree species.

adaptation, genetic variability, provenance trial, Quercus petraea

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