1. The maternal environment of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) affects intrapopulation variability in seed traits and germinationVladan Popović, Aleksandar Lučić, Mladen Ivanković, Branislav Cvjetković, Gregor Božič, Vlatko Andonovski, Danijela Miljković, 2026, original scientific article Abstract: Interpopulation variation was investigated using seed samples originating from twenty-six European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) populations across the Balkan Peninsula, a part of the species’ distribution range characterized by high ecological heterogeneity in key climatic factors, such as temperature (5.8-10.6 °C), precipitation (648-1632 mm), and elevation (185-1410 m a.s.l.). The statistical significance of intrapopulation differences was confirmed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) for all seed traits analyzed: seed weight (g), length (mm), width (mm), thickness (mm), eccentricity and flatness indices, and germination capacity (%). Multivariate principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to examine seed traits in relation to environmental variables of the maternal site, such as mean temperature and precipitation in September and October (the seed maturation period), revealing distinct patterns of relationships among the variables studied. Seed traits were significantly positively correlated with mean temperatures of the maternal site in September and October, indicating that temperature during the seed-filling period affects seed mass. Germination capacity was associated with precipitation during the same period, though the correlation coefficient was not statistically significant; a shorter vector length in the PC biplot suggests a weaker contribution to population separation. Elevation of the site of origin showed a significant negative correlation with temperature, precipitation, and seed traits. Agglomerative hierarchical clustering analysis identified three distinct population clusters. Higher temperature and precipitation values did not necessarily result in higher seed trait values or higher germination percentages. The population with the highest seed mass exhibited the lowest germination capacity (32%) during seed maturation under the lowest precipitation. Conversely, the population characterized by the lowest seed mass showed a higher germination rate of 68% in environments with high precipitation. These results provide valuable insights into the reproductive ecology of European beech, suggesting that other factors beyond those analyzed here may have a more substantial influence on seed germination. The variation in seed traits across habitats that are either drier and hotter or colder and wetter, along the elevation gradient of the studied populations, paves the way for future research and breeding efforts to enhance the species’ survival and reproductive success amid anticipated climate change scenarios.
Keywords: seed traits, seed germination, European beech, Fagus sylvatica L., environmental variation, southeast europe, genetic variation
Published in DiRROS: 20.04.2026; Views: 49; Downloads: 18
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2. Smernice za gozdni genetski monitoring navadne bukve (Fagus sylvatica L.)Marjana Westergren, Darius Kavaliauskas, Paraskevi Alizoti, Marko Bajc, Filipos Aravanopoulos, Gregor Božič, Rok Damjanić, Natalija Dovč, Domen Finžgar, Barbara Fussi, Fotios Kiourtsis, Hojka Kraigher, 2020, other monographs and other completed works Keywords: gozdovi, genetski monitoring, gozdna genetika, navadna bukev, Fagus sylvatica L.
Published in DiRROS: 13.02.2026; Views: 441; Downloads: 101
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3. European beech decline in Slovenia is caused by a complex diseaseNikica Ogris, Ana Brglez, Andreja Kavčič, Janja Zajc Žunič, Maarten De Groot, Barbara Piškur, 2026, original scientific article Abstract: In recent decades, the average crown defoliation of European beech (Fagus sylvatica) in Central Europe has been steadily increasing, resulting in a decline in tree vitality. This study aimed to identify the key factors contributing to this deterioration. Forty healthy and 40 damaged European beech trees were felled on a systematic 16 × 16 km grid, and all tree parts were sampled for fungi and insects. Additionally, soil samples were collected for Phytophthora testing. Of 6400 cultured samples, 5828 fungal cultures were classified into 251 morphotypes. The twenty most frequent morphotypes from each tree part were selected for further molecular identification, revealing 44 different fungal taxa. The most frequently isolated fungal species were Neonectria coccinea, Neohendersonia kickxii, Apiognomonia errabunda and Aureobasidium pullulans—all well-known and common endophytes. Surprisingly, Phytophthora species were detected in only three of the 80 soil samples. The most frequent insect species were Orchestes fagi, Phyllaphis fagi, Psilocorsis reflexella and Phyllonorycter maestingella. The results indicate that the decline of European beech in Central Europe is driven by a multifaceted interplay of biotic and abiotic factors, with fungi playing the most significant role. Analysis revealed distinct differences in fungal and insect communities across sampled tree parts, but not between healthy and damaged trees. This finding is crucial, as it shows that healthy trees host endophytes that can exhibit pathogenic traits under external stress factors. Therefore, resilience and sustainability of beech will depend on mitigation of stressors and implementation of adaptive management strategies that address the evolving environmental challenges.
Keywords: Fagus sylvatica, decline, complex disease, drought, climate change, sustainability
Published in DiRROS: 23.12.2025; Views: 380; Downloads: 220
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4. Agents of European beech declineNikica Ogris, Ana Brglez, Andreja Kavčič, Janja Zajc Žunič, Maarten De Groot, Barbara Piškur, 2025, complete scientific database of research data Abstract: Data collected in the project "Diseases, pests and drought stress of European beech at various climate change scenarios (V4-2026), Working package 2: Causes of the decline of European beech in Slovenia". Data was collected on 40 sampling plots, 39 plots on systematic grid 16 × 16 km and one additional plot in the Alps. On each sampling plot two trees were felled, altogether 80 trees: one visually healthy, and one damaged tree. Visual assessment of crown condition and damaging agents was evaluated following methods of ICP Forests. Rhizosphere soil was collected from each sampled tree for the Phytophthora baiting assay. For fungal isolations five parts of a tree were sampled: leaves, twigs (up to 20 mm in diameter), branches (over 20 mm in diameter), trunk, surface roots and root collar (up to 25 cm from the ground). Four samples from each tree part were collected. Finally, 20 samples per tree and 40 samples per plot were collected, yielding 1.600 samples in total. The samples were surface sterilized. Four subsamples were collected from one sample, altogether, 6.400 subsamples/tissue pieces. Four subsamples were plated on potato dextrose agar supplemented with streptomycin. Fungi and Phytophthora species were identified using molecular techniques, while insects were identified based on their morphological characteristics.
Keywords: research data, Fagus sylvatica, decline, damage, complex disease, fungi, insects, Phytophthora, endophytes, stress
Published in DiRROS: 25.09.2025; Views: 677; Downloads: 136
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5. Low but significant evolutionary potential for growth, phenology and reproduction traits in European beechMarjana Westergren, Juliette Archambeau, Marko Bajc, Rok Damjanić, Adélaïde Theraroz, Hojka Kraigher, Sylvie Oddou-Muratorio, Santiago C. González-Martínez, 2023, complete scientific database of research data Abstract: Local survival of forest tree populations under climate change depends on existing genetic variation and their adaptability to changing environments. Responses to selection were studied in European beech (Fagus sylvatica) under field conditions. A total of 1,087 adult trees, seeds, one-year-old seedlings, and established multiyear saplings were genotyped with 16 nuSSRs. Adult trees were assessed for phenotypic traits related to growth, phenology and reproduction. Parentage and paternity analyses were used to estimate effective female and male fecundity as a proxy of fitness and showed that few parents contributed to successful regeneration. Selection gradients were estimated from the relationship between traits and fecundity, while heritability and evolvability were estimated using mixed models and the breeder’s equation. Larger trees bearing more fruit and early male flowering had higher total fecundity, while trees with longer growth season had lower total fecundity (directional selection). Stabilising selection on spring phenology was found for female fecundity, highlighting the role of late frosts as a selection driver. Selection gradients for other traits varied between measurement years and the offspring cohort used to estimate parental fecundity. Compared to other studies in natural populations, we found low to moderate heritability and evolvability for most traits. Response to selection was higher for growth than for budburst, leaf senescence or reproduction traits, reflecting more consistent selection gradients across years and sex functions, and higher phenotypic variability in the population. Our study provides empirical evidence suggesting that populations of long-lived organisms such as forest trees can adapt locally, even at short-time scales.
Keywords: climate change, Fagus sylvatica, heritability, in situ adaptation, response to selection, selection gradients
Published in DiRROS: 10.09.2025; Views: 496; Downloads: 292
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6. No future growth enhancement expected at the Northern edge for European beech due to continued water limitationStefan Klesse, Richard Peters, Raquel Alfaro-Sánchez, Vincent Badeau, Claudia Baittinger, Katarina Čufar, Jožica Gričar, Maks Merela, Peter Prislan, Tom Levanič, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: With ongoing global warming, increasing water deficits promote physiological stress on forest ecosystems with negative impacts on tree growth, vitality, and survival. How individual tree species will react to increased drought stress is therefore a key research question to address for carbon accounting and the development of climate change mitigation strategies. Recent tree-ring studies have shown that trees at higher latitudes will benefit from warmer temperatures, yet this is likely highly species-dependent and less well-known for more temperate tree species. Using a unique pan-European tree-ring network of 26,430 European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) trees from 2118 sites, we applied a linear mixed-effects modeling framework to (i) explain variation in climate-dependent growth and (ii) project growth for the near future (2021–2050) across the entire distribution of beech. We modeled the spatial pattern of radial growth responses to annually varying climate as a function of mean climate conditions (mean annual temperature, mean annual climatic water balance, and continentality). Over the calibration period (1952–2011), the model yielded high regional explanatory power (R2 = 0.38–0.72). Considering a moderate climate change scenario (CMIP6 SSP2-4.5), beech growth is projected to decrease in the future across most of its distribution range. In particular, projected growth decreases by 12%–18% (interquartile range) in northwestern Central Europe and by 11%–21% in the Mediterranean region. In contrast, climate-driven growth increases are limited to around 13% of the current occurrence, where the historical mean annual temperature was below ~6°C. More specifically, the model predicts a 3%–24% growth increase in the high-elevation clusters of the Alps and Carpathian Arc. Notably, we find little potential for future growth increases (−10 to +2%) at the poleward leading edge in southern Scandinavia. Because in this region beech growth is found to be primarily water-limited, a northward shift in its distributional range will be constrained by water availability.
Keywords: climate change, climate sensitivity, drought, Fagus sylvatica, growth projection, leading edge, trailing edge, tree rings
Published in DiRROS: 10.02.2025; Views: 904; Downloads: 617
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7. Smernice za trajnostno gospodarjenje z bukovimi gozdovi : (Fagus sylvatica L.)Cristina Vettori, Roberta Ferrante, Cesare Garosi, Francesco Parisi, Davide Travaglini, Donatella Paffetti, Sanja Bogunović, Mladen Ivanković, Anđelina Gavranović Markić, Barbara Škiljan, Zvonimir Vujnović, Miran Lanšćak, Francesca Logli, Marko Bajc, Rok Damjanić, Natalija Dovč, Tijana Martinović, Tanja Mrak, Tina Unuk Nahberger, Nataša Šibanc, Marjana Westergren, Hojka Kraigher, Andrej Breznikar, Kristina Sever, 2024, dictionary, encyclopaedia, lexicon, manual, atlas, map Keywords: sonaravno gospodarjenje, klimatske spremembe, trajnostno gospodarjenje z gozdovi, sonaravno gospodarjenje z gozdovi, bukev, bukovi gozdovi, Fagus sylvatica L.
Published in DiRROS: 01.02.2025; Views: 760; Downloads: 546
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8. Guidelines for sustainable forest management of beech : (Fagus sylvatica L.)Cristina Vettori, Roberta Ferrante, Cesare Garosi, Francesco Parisi, Patrizia Rossi, Davide Travaglini, Donatella Paffetti, Sanja Bogunović, Mladen Ivanković, Anđelina Gavranović Markić, Marko Bajc, Rok Damjanić, Natalija Dovč, Tine Grebenc, Tijana Martinović, Tanja Mrak, Tina Unuk Nahberger, Nataša Šibanc, Marjana Westergren, Hojka Kraigher, Andrej Breznikar, Kristina Sever, 2024, dictionary, encyclopaedia, lexicon, manual, atlas, map Keywords: Close-to-nature, forest sustainable management, climate changes, beech, Fagus sylvatica L.
Published in DiRROS: 01.02.2025; Views: 885; Downloads: 545
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9. Letna in sezonska debelinska rast dreves na ploskvah intenzivnega monitoringa v SlovenijiTom Levanič, Matej Rupel, Andreja Vedenik, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: V okviru intenzivnega monitoringa gozdnih ekosistemov že od leta 2009 s pomočjo ročnih dendrometrov spremljamo de- belinsko priraščanje dreves na letnem nivoju. Gre za dopolnilni podatek o debelinskem priraščanju dreves, ki ga pridobimo v okviru petletnih inventur na ploskvah intenzivnega monitoringa. Letno dinamiko debelinskega priraščanja spremljamo z dvema tipoma ročnih dendrometrov : plastičnimi, nemškega proizvajalca, in nerjavnimi, češkega proizvajalca. S spremljanjem debelinske rasti z ročnimi dendrometri želimo ugotoviti vpliv okoljskih in podnebnih dejavnikov na rast dreves med dvema petletnima inventurama. Tako dobimo bistveno boljše podatke o stanju priraščanja dreves kot s petletnimi inventurami, kjer ekstremni dogodki izginejo v povprečju. V letu 2022 smo dodatno na vse ploskve namestili tudi elektronske dendrometre z visoko frekvenco spremljanja spreminjanja debelinskega prirastka na ploskvah intenzivnega monitoringa v Sloveniji. Z njimi želimo ugotoviti vplive okoljskih in podnebnih dejavnikov na znotraj sezonsko dinamiko debelinskega priraščanja. To je ključno za razumevanje vpliva negativnih podnebnih dejavnikov na debelinsko priraščanje dreves.
Keywords: podnebne spremembe, bukev, Fagus sylvatica, dob, Quercus robur, smreka, Picea abies, ročni dendrometer, elektronski dendrometer
Published in DiRROS: 06.12.2024; Views: 1074; Downloads: 364
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10. Different patterns of inter-annual variability in mean vessel area and tree-ring widths of beech from provenance trials in Slovenia and HungaryJožica Gričar, Domen Arnič, Luka Krajnc, Peter Prislan, Gregor Božič, Marjana Westergren, Mátyás Csaba, Hojka Kraigher, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: International provenance trials of ecologically and economically important tree species are crucial to deciphering the influence of environmental factors and intraspecific variability on tree growth and performance under climate change to guide assisted gene flow and assisted migration of tree provenances and species. In this context, we compared inter-annual trends in tree-ring widths (carbon sequestration potential) and vessel characteristics (conductivity optimisation) of four beech provenances in two international provenance trials, one in Slovenia (Kamenski hrib, a core beech growing site) and one in Hungary (Bucsuta, a marginal beech site) in 2009–2019. We found different patterns of inter-annual variability in mean vessel area and tree-ring widths among provenances and sites, pointing to diverse genetic background and environmental influence on these two wood-anatomical traits. The average values of the vessel area varied less between provenances at Kamenski hrib than at Bucsuta. Weather conditions differently affected tree-ring width and mean vessel area. Furthermore, the length of the period of response of vessel area to the analysed weather conditions differed in summer and winter periods. The differences in the mean vessel area within the tree ring were more pronounced in the weather-wise extreme years, regardless of the provenance. Consistent with previous studies, we confirmed that site conditions affect the climate sensitivity of trees, which is more pronounced at marginal sites or in extreme years. The findings on how different environmental conditions affect the radial growth of young beech trees of different origin are very important for future forest management.
Keywords: Fagus sylvatica, quantitative wood anatomy, common gardens, intraspecific variation, juvenile period, weather conditions
Published in DiRROS: 03.12.2024; Views: 970; Downloads: 1275
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