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The main goal of this research is to shed further light on the sensitivity of the vegetation indices to spatial changes of stand parameters. The analysis was done within mountain forests in the Sudetes and the Beskids in southern Poland. Some 1327 stands were analysed with more than 70 percent of spruce contribution in the species composition. The response of selected vegetation indices was verified in relation to the alterations of spruce participation, stand height, volume, stand density and diameter. The following indices were analysed: Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, Normalized Difference Red Edge Index, Green Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and Wide Dynamic Range Vegetation Index. Indices were calculated based on the Rapid Eye (Black Bridge) images. All the analysed stand characteristics influence the values of vegetation indices. In general: mean height, diameter at breast height, volume and spruce participation are the most negatively correlated with the indices. Density is a variable that, in general, cannot directly be used for indices correction, because it is hard to find any stable trend. NDRE is the most stable index for the analysis of stand characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subject of the present research is the water storage capacity of bark of seven forest tree species: Pinus sylvestris L., Larix decidua Mill., Abies alba Mill., Pinus sylvestris L., Quercus robur L., Betula pendula Ehrh. and Fagus sylvatica L. The aim of the research is to demonstrate differences in the formation of bark water storage capacity between species and to identify factors influencing the hydrological properties of bark. The maximum water storage capacity of bark was determined under laboratory conditions by performing a series of experiments simulating rainfall and by immersing bark samples in containers filled with water. After each single experiment, the bark samples were subjected to gravity filtration in a desiccator partially filled with water. The experiments lasted from 1084 to 1389 hours, depending on the bark sample. In all the studied species, bark sampled from the thinnest trees is characterized by the highest water storage capacity expressed in mm H2O · cm-3, while bark sampled from the thickest trees - by the lowest capacity. On the other hand, bark sampled from the thickest trees is characterized by the highest water storage capacity expressed in H2O · cm-2 whereas bark from the thinnest trees - by the lowest capacity. In most species tested, as the tree thickness and thus the bark thickness and the coefficient of development of the interception surface of bark increase, the sorption properties of the bark decrease with bark depth and the main role in water retention is played by the outer bark surface. The bark of European beech is an exception because of the smallest degree of surface development and because the dominant process is the absorption of water. When examining the hydrological properties of bark and calculating its parameters, one needs to take into account the actual surface of the bark of trees. Disregarding the actual bark surface may lead to significant errors in the interpretation of research results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper describes a number of molecular methods used in the past and now to analyze forest tree species. Taking into account the economic importance of forest trees and in view of the timber economy, wood properties and characteristics are essential factors subjected to control, observation and research. Molecular techniques that support traditional selection methods allow for genetic diversity analyses considering a range of research aspects. The development of these techniques at the turn of the last two decades has enabled wide-ranging use of molecular data in studies on forest tree populations. On the example of pine (Pinus L.), the paper presents data based on molecular studies as well as a variety of possibilities to apply the obtained results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provenance trials with forest trees provide valuable information about growth and adaptability of populations often transferred over large geographical and climatic distances. In this study we evaluated growth and survival of 19 Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) populations representing most of the natural range of the species in Europe, growing in a 30-year-old provenance trial in the northeastern Poland. We used cluster analysis to investigate differentiation among those populations in growth and survival. We also used published data on needle morphology and allozyme and DNA marker variation for those same populations to compare groupings of populations based on growth and needle traits and markers. We found significant variation among tested populations in all investigated traits - the largest variation was found for stand volume which integrates information on growth and survival. Variation in growth traits was related to the latitude of population origin with populations from the latitudinal band between 49° N and 54° N showing the best performance. Populations originating from both north and south off of that region showed lower productivity, which for southern provenances resulted from their particularly low survival, reflecting the lack of adaptation to the environment of the research site. Grouping of populations based on growth traits revealed three clusters corresponding to the three latitudinal regions - northern, central and southern. Needle morphological traits were not appropriate as markers of productivity. Clustering of populations based on needle morphology, and especially based on biochemical and molecular markers, did not correspond to the grouping based on growth traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laccase and manganese dependent peroxidase (MnP) genes in H. annosum s.l. were studied by PCR-RFLP. The peroxidase genes MNP1a and MNP2 showed Heterobasidion species specific length differences. Among eighteen monomorphic markers which were found for investigatedgenes, three were characteristic for H. abietinum andfive for H. annosum s.s. The remaining specific markers were characteristic for H. parviporum and H. abietinum (nine markers) or for H. parviporum and H. annosum s.s. (one marker). No specific marker for H. parviporum was detected. On the basis of monomorphic markers, intersterility groups of eighty one strains isolatedfrom eleven forest tree or bush species in south Polandwere identified. Fifty-three belongedto H. annosum s.s., twenty-five to H. parviporum, andthree to H. abietinum. Strains belonging to H. annosum s.s. were isolatedfrom Pinus nigra, P. strobus, P. sylvestris, Larix decidua, Picea abies, as well as from Alnus incana, Betula pendula, Padus avium, Quercus robur and Q. rubra. H. parviporum was isolatedfrom Abies alba, Picea abies, Pinus nigra, P. sylvestris, Larix decidua andfrom Alnus incana. This is the first report of H. parviporum occurrence on Alnus incana in Poland. The ascertained H. abietinum strains derived from Abies alba. Our results demonstrate a new methodof Heterobasidion species identification based on the different length of MNP1a and MNP2 peroxidase genes and RFLP markers obtained for laccase and Mn2+ dependent peroxidase genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is one of the most important forest tree species in Poland and it covers 5.2% of forest area. Present genetic structure of beech populations has been formed within the last few thousand years and influenced by many different factors, not only of environmental (postglacial) and genetic origin, but also by anthropogenic ones. In Poland, beech attains its north-eastern limit of natural range, and is limited by continental climate, winter temperatures, air humidity and soil conditions. The growth of beech stands outside the natural beech limit indicates that the species possesses a potentially wider range. Based on their phytosociological characteristics, nine beech experimental plots of one hectare area were established in selected seed stands, representing the typical plant associations and the most important beech provenance (seed) regions. The genetic analyses were performed using isoenzyme electrophoresis for seven loci (GOT, LAP, MDH, MNR, PGM, PGI, SKDH) and DNA markers using RAPD primers. The following genetic parameters were calculated: average number of alleles per locus, percentage of polymorphic loci and heterozygosity (on the basis of isoenzyme analysis). Dendrograms based on genetic distances were constructed. There is a slight decrease of genetic variation of beech populations towards the north of Poland, which can be explained by migration paths and selection after the glacial period. The genetic differentiation of beech in Poland does not allow distinguishing provenance regions. The data show a mosaic character of species differentiation and an ecotypic variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]