EVALUAREA VARIABILITĂȚII CARACTERELOR RITIDOMULUI ÎN POPULAȚIILE STEJARULUI PUFOS (QUERCUS PUBESCENS WILLD.)

Abstract

This study evaluated the variability of bark characteristics in eight populations of downy oak (Quercus pubescens Willd.) across the territory of the Republic of Moldova. The aim of this study was to assess the degree of variability of bark characteristics within populations to evaluate the specifics of their variation and spatial distribution, which are essential for the conservation of the gene pool and sustainable resource utilization. The study analyzed the following bark characteristics: length of bark crack segments, width of bark crack segments, depth of bark segments, length of bark plate segments, and width of bark plate segments. Within the investigated populations, these characteristics exhibited high and very high degrees of variability. Although significant variability was observed, the mean values of downy oak populations were relatively close for three of the characteristics analyzed. Statistically significant differences between populations were found only for the length of bark crack segments and the length of bark plate segments. The high and very high variability of characteristics within the studied populations demonstrates the polymorphism of downy oak in terms of bark traits, which can be useful in the appropriate management of forests in forestry practice.