RESEARCH OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF AN ADULT WOODY ALBINO MESIAN BEECH (FAGUS MOESIACA, ASINE PIGMENTE) AS A TREE FORM IN CENTRAL SERBIA.

The paper presents the beginning of the research on the characteristics of albino beech in the Central Serbia region. The studied beech is perennial, of sprout origin, fruitful, and most likely parasitic on the parent tree, considering that its lack of chlorophyll renders it unable to feed and grow on its own. By measuring the physical characteristics of common and albino beeches that share the same root system, and by comparing the length and width of their leaves, the obtained results show that the leaves of albino beech are noticeably smaller. The average length of leaves of common beech is 7.19 cm, while the average length of leaves of albino beech is 6.08 cm. The average width of leaves of common beech is 3.83 cm, whereas the average width of leaves of albino beech is 3.35 cm. To achieve transpiration as a basic physiological function of any tree form, albinism causes significant weakening of the maximum strength and sap during water transport. Additionally, since the leaf is deprived of any of the essential pigments - chlorophyll (a, b, c, d), anthocyanin, carotene - this results in dwarf growth or the formation of bush-like forms of trees. For genome sequencing, it is planned to take samples of leaves with and without pigment and preserve them in liquid nitrogen at a temperature of -195℃ in special canister freezers with liquid nitrogen. The view on the phenomenon and the potentially still unrecognized mechanisms of functioning of the plant itself, as well as the plants around it, fungi associated with its root system, or even the discovery of a completely new network or system of connections, remains to be uncovered. What enables the nutrition and influx of basic sugars into this plant may be revealed through the sequencing of its entire genome, which is a basic, logical, and one of the first steps to be taken. The exact location of the plant is kept confidential at this time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]