Kateřina Houšková

• Mendel University in Brno

In European forestry, there is an increased need for a reliable inventory of genetic resources and the use of less traditional tree species is on the rise. An example of this is the wild service tree (Sorbus torm-inalis (L.) Crantz). This review covers the scientific literature that deals with the genetics of the wild service tree, with a specific...

Drought stress can profoundly affect plant growth and physiological vitality, yet there is a notable scarcity of controlled drought experiments focused on herbaceous species of the forest understorey. In this study, we collected seeds from five forb and four graminoid species common in European temperate forests. Seeds were germinated under control...

Despite the great diversity in leaf structural and physiological traits, leaf structural traits appear to be coordinated with physiological function. It was observed that the petiole xylem structure is an important predictor of leaf gas exchange capacity, yet only a few studies have dealt directly with the question of how petiole xylem structure re...

Knowledge of the genetic variability of different species for conservation purposes and quality seedling production after longer storage time is important. The aim of the research paper was to examine the effect of longer seed storage periods (19–30 year) on seed viability, seed vigour and initial growth of seedlings from five provenances of Pterol...

The Douglas fir has been cultivated in Europe since the mid-19th century, but its artificial regeneration leads to a low yield of seedlings. It could be improved by prolonged pre-sowing treatment (cold stratification of seeds) or the early shading of sowings, so that their effect on five Douglas fir seed lots and their emergence and growth of seedl...

The aim of the work was to verify whether the fermentation of seed material is a suitable pre-sowing treatment of small-leaved lime. Seed material of two origins was treated for a period of 7, 14 and 21 days using anaerobic fermentation and for 10, 20 and 30 days using aerobic fermentation, the control treatment being the seed after warm–cold strat...

Research Highlights: This study is focused on the germination of Dracaena steudneri Schweinf. Ex Engl. seeds using different presowing treatments. Background and Objectives: The study aimed to overcome the problem of breaking seed dormancy, to facilitate artificial regeneration for conservation and development purposes. The objectives of this study...

Several studies have shown that petiole xylem structure could be an important predictor of leaf gas exchange capacity, but the question of how petiole xylem structure relates to leaf gas exchange under different environment conditions remains unresolved. Moreover, knowledge of the amount of leaf gas exchange and structural variation that exists wit...

The endemic Boswellia species (Burseraceae) on Socotra Island (Yemen) are of great local significance due to their various local ethnobotanical uses. However, despite the fact that these trees are endangered, little is known about their biology. We tested seed germination rates in controlled experiments (trials of 21 days) for two subsequent years...

The aim of this research was to compare methods of overwinter storage of forest tree species planting stock and to specify of the optimal and the minimal temperature for freezing. Planting stock of European beech and Norway spruce were stored three times over a period of dormancy (2015/2016, 2016/2017, 2017/2018) (1) in freezers, (2) in an air-cond...

The aim of the study was to confirm and compare efficiency of methods enhancing the vitality of Scots pine and Norway spruce seeds: soaking in water, cold stratification, additional moistening and incubation according to IDS method. The examined parameters included water content in the seeds, germination energy, mean germination time and germinatio...

Research highlights: This study is focused on the germination of Dracaena cinnabari seeds in order to discover the possibility of natural and artificial regeneration of this species. Background and Objectives: This study aimed to determine the optimal temperature for D. cinnabari seed germination, e.g., the temperature at which the germination perc...

In 2013-2016, the growth and post-planting losses were monitored of bare-rooted and containerized planting stock of European beech, Norway spruce and Douglas fir together with the course of weather in seven regions of the Czech Republic, most endangered by drought. Precipitation deficits occurred especially in the spring period of 2015 and in the s...

Forest managers will find following information: • A list of tree species including their ability to provide commercial, soil improving or stabilizing functions on forest sites suitable for growing Scots pine and Norway spruce; • Recommended tree species composition including ranking of soil improvers and stabilizers; the trees were divided into th...

The paper aims to contribute to the determination of reasons causing the irregular growth of young pedunculate oaks occurring at the margins of naturally and artificially regenerated plots neighbouring with adult stands on alluvial sites. It presents analyses of aboveground biometric parameters, mortality, root system architecture of young trees, r...

The work evaluates the growth of European beech, Norway spruce and Silver fir planted under the stands of European mountain ash as a substitute tree species in diverse regimes of stand density. Growth parameters of the above-mentioned underplanted tree species aged 4-11 years were evaluated with respect to different regimes of tending measures in t...

The paper analyses the influence of an extended period of cold stratification on the germination capacity, emergence rate and yield of seedlings in the Douglas fir as well as on the morphological parameters of one-year-old seedlings. A total of ten seed lots were used for evaluating germination capacity, originating from the Czech Republic, Slovaki...

This publication is based on the research project “Forestry Management in the Jizerské hory Mts.” financed by Grant Agency of Forests of the Czech Republic in 2003 and 2004. In the framework of this project, long term investigations of Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, forestry faculties in Brno and Prague, Forest Management Institut...

One of the critical points of Douglas fir seedling production is to optimize the time of sowing and length of pre-sowing treatment. Germination and emergence of Douglas fir seed lot of the Czech origin (CZ-2-2A-DG-1740-6-3-P) were observed in simulated warm and cold conditions in two phytotrons for 3 months. Before this procedure the seeds were exp...

Germination capacity and emergence rate of a specific Douglas-fir seed lot from the Czech Republic are determined in this paper. Different time of sowing and cold stratification period were tested. Seeds without stratification and seeds subjected to prechilling treatment period of 21, 35 and 49 days were sown in mid-March, mid-April and mid-May 201...

Morphological quality of the above-ground part of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) transplants was assessed eight years after planting on a droughtprone site rich in nutrients. Three plots of different initial density of the young plantations were compared: 10,000-11,100 pcs/ha, 7,700-8,300 pcs/ha and 6,250-6,700 pcs/ha. We ascertained the effect o...

Quality of the above-ground part of European beech planted at diff erent densities and spacing patterns for the purpose of artifi cial forest regeneration was monitored 3, 4 and 6 years a er planting. The initial numbers of beech transplants were 5,000 pcs.ha-1, 10,000 pcs.ha-1, 15,000 pcs.ha-1 and 20,000 pcs.ha-1. The spacing pattern of transplant...

Not only in the Czech Republic there is a problem with low yield of Douglas fi r seedlings in forest tree nurseries. It can be caused mainly by two factors: The type of pre-sowing treatment and the temperature at the time of sowing. The aim of this study is to fi nd out their infl uence on the emergence rate of Douglas fi r. We have tested one spec...

The most commercially important community in which pedunculate oak can be found is the floodplain forest. Rejuvenation of pedunculate oak that could become a foundation for the natural stand regeneration however occurs only rarely in these site conditions, and even if it appears, it dies very rapidly in the shade of the parent stand. Some experts c...

The subject of our research was to verify effects of the mechanical preparation of soil in the natural regeneration of pedunculate oak in a floodplain forest. On the site of a hard-wooded floodplain forest at the confluence of the Morava and Dyje rivers (Czech Republic), several sample plots were established differing in the preparation of soil dur...