engleski

Influence of forest management systems on the morphological and chemical variation of wild sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) populations

In this study, morphometric methods and chemical analyses were used to quantify the extent of differences in phenotypic and nutritional traits between sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill, Fagaceae) populations from different environmental conditions, where different management types are applied, high-forest and coppice. I order to do that, we collected samples from 160 trees originating from eight natural populations stretching from the Prealps in Italy to the western part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In total, 31 nut and kernel morphometric and nutritional traits were studied, and various multivariate statistical analyses were used to study intra- and interpopulation variations. Both analyses, morphometric and chemical, revealed a similar pattern of diversity, with morphological and chemical variability not associated with geographic or environmental variables. Moreover, differences in morphological and chemical nut traits evaluated here corresponded mainly to management practices. Extensively managed coppice populations on average resulted in smaller nuts with higher water and magnesium (Mg) content. In contrast, high-forest stands grown from seeds were characterized by larger nuts with lower water and Mg content. However, it was noteworthy that the type of management did not affect the morphological and chemical nut diversity of the coppice populations and that they remained similar to those of the high-forest stands. Finally, we concluded that the differences between coppice and high-forest populations are due to several factors, including habitat changes resulting from the forms and intensities of management practices, physiological processes related to stem growth, and genetic diversity.

population diversity ; population structure ; morphometric analysis ; chemical analysis ; forest management ; silviculture

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