Research on the genetic potential of forest tree species and diversity of forest andornamental trees and shrubs.
Genetic potential of forest trees is commonly investigated through the studies of forest tree diversity. Taking into account the global climate change, it is important to determine their past and present area of distribution on natural sites (for forest species), and the rate and length of survival on artificial plantations such as parks, amenity forests, shelterbelts, etc. (for forest and horticultural varieties). The capacity of forest species to reproduce naturally as well as the capacity of forest and horticultural species to produce seeds and seedlings are factors important for the determination of genetic potential.
Morpho-physiological studies of pollen of forest and ornamental trees and shrubs.
The processes of pollination and seeding directly depend on the quantity and quality of pollen. Characteristics of male gametophytes depend on the characteristics of parents and on external factors that affect the timing of flowering, its duration and abundance. Pollen size (length, width and shape of pollen grains) is crucial to the possibility of cross-pollinating different individuals (of forest species), varieties (of ornamental trees and shrubs), or even different species of forest trees. Physiological characteristics of pollen (germination rate and germination vigor of pollen) are essential for the processes of pollination and seeding to be successful. Determination of the germination rate of fresh pollen or pollen stored at low temperatures carried out for each tree separately (at the individual level) is important in planning artificial pollination to obtain hybrids with improved properties or interspecies hybrids.
Studies of morphological and anatomical characteristics of needles
Most morphological traits of needles (e.g. position on the shoot, needle attachment to twig, durability on the shoot, shape, hardness, length, width, thickness, margin, tapering tip, color), can be used genus identification. In addition, some anatomical traits, such as number of vascular bundles, are a key in the classification of species into subgenera, while the position and number of resin ducts and the number of stoma rows are important in species differentiation or identification of lower taxonomic units. There are many other anatomical characteristics of needles, such as depth of lobe, number of rows of epidermis cells and their dimensions, diameter of resin ducts, number and dimensions of sclerenchyma cells, dimensions and thickness of the cell walls of the hypodermis, number and dimensions of endoderm cells and the shape and dimensions of the central cylinder, that are used to determine the population and individual variability in species, identify hybrids and for other purposes. Investigations of the the most important morphological and anatomical characteristics of plant species have already been quite exhausted. However, they are still significant and unavoidable in species that haven`t been sufficiently investigated, species with introgression, in the study of population variability, identification of hybrids and lower taxa (e.g. subspecies, varieties, forms, cultivars), and in recent research studies they are increasingly being combined with chemotaxonomic, genetic, palaeological, phylogenetic, ecological and other similar studies.
Chemotaxonomic research based on analysis of secondary metabolites
Chemotaxonomic research is getting more and more prominent in modern forestry. The use of biochemical markers often provides the means for the determination of variability and divergence of natural populations, which cannot be done on the basis of morpho-anatomical characteristics. Tests of secondary metabolites (terpenes, n-alkanes, flavonoids, etc.) are relatively cheap and reliable, and can provide guidance for much more expensive genetic research. Terpenes (terpenoids, isoprenoids or polyisoprenoids) are a broad class of natural compounds belonging to the large family of lipids. They are also the largest group of plant secondary metabolites. In addition to their wide distribution in plants, they are typical of some animal tissues (e.g. pheromones). The volatile sesquiterpenes, for instance, which are commonly found in essential oils, have a pharmacological effect, and in the plant - insect relation, they can either stimulate pollination and fertilization by attracting insects or they can have antifeedant effect on insects and drive tham away. n-Alkanes are plant wax compounds found in leaves and other plant parts. Although they are present in small quantities, their composition and variability make them very important in plant chemosystematics. The amount of wax in the needles of some species varies during the growing season and with age, and in some species only the structure is changed with the age. n-Alkanes are among the chemical components which are responsible for that. In addition to tests of variability and ecological plasticity, terpenes and n-Alkanes are suitable for chemosistematic investigations at the level of family, genus or species and for the detection of lower systematic units (subspecies, varieties, cultivars, etc.). The tests of secondary metabolites (terpenes, n-alkanes, flavonoids, etc.) are done in collaboration with the laboratories of the Faculty of Chemistry of the University of Belgrade, the Institute of Medicinal Plants "Josif Pančić", Faculty of Biology of the University of Belgrade, etc.
Genetics, Selection, Introduction and Breeding of Forest Trees
- research on inter- and intrapopulation variability,
- research on inter- and intraline variability,
- delineation of provenance regions,
- evaluation of the genetic potential of seed stands.
- Application of introduction as a method of forest tree breeding and selection
- Selection of the most promising provenances of introduced species of conifers
- Genetic and ecological bases of adaptability
- Phenotypic and genotypic correlation between quality indicators
- Study of genetic and phenotypic variability correlations
- Monitoring of genetic potential of cone yield
- Physiological and genetic analysis
- Morphometric analysis of plant properties
- Effects of the parent rock type on the variability of the studied provenance traits
- Transfer and application of scientific and technological solutions for the control of
- The collection of indigenous genotypes of broadleaves and conifers in order to the planting material productionestablish a "gene bank"
Seed and Seedling Production
- Collection, storage and production of seed and seedlings,
- Study of pre-sowing treatments,
- Research into new technologies of seedling production,
- Research on the effects of plant amendments on the quality of seedlings
- Setting up progeny tests,
- Setting up field experiments,
- Isolation of selected seed stands,
- Establishment and maintenance of living tree archives.