Morphological and phenological variability of Common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in the international provenance test in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Cilj istraživanja je usporediti rast provenijencija obične bukve, te utvrditi početak i završetak fenoloških faza listanja provenijencija obične bukve u međunarodnom testu provenijencija u Bosni i Hercegovini. Test obuhvaća osam provenijencija iz Bosne i Hercegovine, četiri iz Njemačke, tri iz Srbije, po dvije iz Hrvatske, Rumunije i Švicarske te jednu iz Mađarske (tablica 1).U proljeće 2017. godine mjerili smo visine i promjere vrata korijena biljaka u međunarodnom testu provenijencija. Također smo promatrali i bilježili pojavu fenoloških faza listanja kroz šest faza (slika 1): A – Spavajući pup; B – Pupovi izduženi, nabubreni, žućkasto-zelenkaste boje; C – Pupovi se počinju otvarati i vidi se prvo zelenilo; D – Počinju se javljati savijeni dlakavi listići; E – Listovi su odmotani, još lepezasti, prisutne blijede liske; F – Listovi su potpuno ­razvijeni, glatki i široki.Prosječna visina za sve provenijencije bila je 164,6 cm (tablica 2), a prosječan promjer vrata korjena 33,4 mm (tablica 5). Najmanju prosječnu visinu (104,2 cm) i promjer (22,6 mm) imala je provenijencija Alba - Iulia iz Rumunije (9664). Najveću prosječnu visinu (197,4 cm) i promjer (40,1 mm) imala je provenijencija Dilj Čaglinski iz Hrvatske (9624).Utvrdili smo razlike između provenijencija u pogledu pojavljivanja fenoloških faza listanja (tablica 8), kao i dužini trajanja faza (tablica 10). Faza B se najranije pojavila 31.3. kod provenijencija Grmeč Jasenica i Dinara iz Bosne i Hercegovine i Cer iz Srbije. Najkasnije se pojavila 8.5. kod provenijencija Herzogenbuchsee iz Švicarske i NS Hasbruch iz Njemačke. Fenofaza F najranije se pojavila 1.5. kod provenijencije Valkonya iz Mađarske. Analiza varijanse pokazala je da postoje statistički značajne razlike između provenijencija, kako u visini (tablica 3) i promjeru vrata korijena (tablica 6) tako i u dužini trajanja fenoloških faza (tablica 10).Biljke u međunarodnom testu provenijencija obične bukve su za vrijeme mjerenja bile stare 12 i 13 godina. Potrebno je vršiti daljnja mjerenja morfoloških svojstava kako bi se utvrdile tendencije rasta pojedinih provenijencija u idućim fazama razvoja. Također je potrebno promatrati fenološke faze kako bi se procijenili utjecaji genetske konstitucije i godišnje klime na fenološka kretanja. Rezultati ovog istraživanja poslužit će za odabir najboljih provenijencija po produktivnosti i otpornosti na kasne proljetne mrazeve.The study aims to compare the growth of common beech provenances, and to determine the beginning and end of the phenological stages of leafing in the international provenance test in Bosnia and Herzegovina.In this research, we measured morphological traits and observed phenology on common beech plants in the international provenance test near Kakanj, Bosnia and Herzegowina. The test was established in 2006 with one-year-old and two-year-old seedlings. It includes eight provenances from Bosnia and Herzegovina, four from Germany, three from Serbia, two each from Croatia, Romania, and Switzerland, and one from Hungary (table 1).In the spring of 2017, we measured the heights (in cm) and root collar diameters (in mm) of plants and observed six phenological phases of leafing (figure 1): A - Sleeping buds; B - Buds swelled; C - Buds begin to open; D - Hairy leaves begin to appear; E - Leaves open, still fanlike; F - Leaves fully developed.Analysis of variance showed statistically significant differences among provenances for morphological traits of height (table 3), and root collar diameter (table 6). Duncan test showed grouping of populations into seven groups for the trait of height (table 8), and eight groups for the trait of root collar diameter (table 10), but groups overlapped.Multivariate analysis for height (Table 7) and root neck diameter (Table 9) revealed statistically significant differences only at the population level and not between trees within the population, nor at the population interaction level x tree.The average height for all provenances was 164.6 cm (table 2), and the average root collar diameter was 33.4 mm (table 5). The lowest average height (104.2 cm) and root collar diameter (22.6 mm) had provenance of Alba - Iulia from Romania (9664). The highest average height (197.4 cm) and root collar diameter (40.1 mm) had provenance Dilj Čaglinski from Croatia (9624).We identified differences between provenances regarding the occurrence of phenological stages of leafing (table 11), as well as regarding the duration of phenological phases (table 10). Phase B occurred the earliest on 31.3. in provenances Grmeč Jasenica and Dinara from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Cer from Serbia. Phase B occurred the latest on 8.5 in provenances Herzogenbuchsee from Switzerland and NS Hasbruch from Germany. Phenophase F appeared the earliest on 1.5. in provenance Valkony from Hungary.Analysis of variance showed statistically significant differences among provenances for the length of phenological stages (table 12).Further measurements of morphological traits need to be made to determine the tendencies of growth of particular provenances in subsequent stages of development.It is also necessary to observe the phenological stages of leafing. It will help to evaluate the effects of the genetic constitution and annual climate on phenological trends. The results of this study will be used to choose the best provenances in terms of productivity and resistance to late spring frosts