DIGITALNA ARHIVA ŠUMARSKOG LISTA
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ŠUMARSKI LIST 1-2/1966 str. 164     <-- 164 -->        PDF

A great number of autochthonous species, subspecies, varieties, races (ecotypes
and biotypes), as well as an abundance of allochthonous coniferous and broadleaved
species offer great possibilities for the development of investigations in the field of
forest genetics and selection The forest genetics is a very young biological branch
in this country. Its development may be divided into two periods. In the first period,
which begins after World War II and the liberation of this country, thanks to
a rapid economic rise and development of the scientific thought, a selection and
specialization of the staff as well as the purchase of equipment for the work in this
field was possible. In this period until 1959 there were carried out fragmentary, sporadic
and non-systematic investigations. In the SR of Croatia and Serbia the first
beginnings date back to 1952 and in other Republics still later to 1956—1958. The
second period begins with 1959. It is characteristic of initiating a systematic selection
of themes, laboratory and field investigations. In the forest institutes were formed
genetical departments and laboratories, while at forestry faculties were introduced
lectures on Forest Genetics and Forest Tree Improvement. Thanks to all this from
1959 until now a conspicuous progress in this branch has been achieved: surmounted
were the initial difficulties and laid out a good basis for further work, in order to
avoid unnecessary overlapping in the work. To this have contributed an adequate
organization and division of work between the interested institutions, and a mutual
assistance, specialization and perfecting of experts in this country and abroad, as
well as the accepting of the joint problems by the collaborators from the individual
Republics. The reflection of all this is today´s number of the staff, the height of
invested means and the modernicity of the problems dealt with.


The problems under investigation in the institutes and at faculties in the individual
Republics are formulated in the projects which are financed through the Research
Work Funds of the Federation or individual Republics. To this system of
financing is bound also the system of collaboration in which one institution is acting
as the bearer of the project (theme), while the others are collaborating. Every
year the collaborators hold together with the bearer of the project the meetings
(indoors or outdoors) in individual Republics, at which are discussed the results
achieved, the justifiability of the tasks set up, and on this occasion there were made
amendments of the programme and the distribution of means. In 1964, within the
framework of the Community of Forest Research Institutions of Yugoslavia was
founded a Section for Genetics and Improvement of Forest - tree Species.


In further explanation will be stated in short the achievements of this country
in this field. It is clear that in such a short time no especially great results could be
achieved but laid down were good foundations for further work.


II. MASS AND INDIVIDUAL SELECTION
The first aim of our work in the selection of forest - tree species was to catch
up with the advanced foreign practice in the production of seed for the establishment
of new forests and reconstruction of degraded natural stands. As we had no
own previous experiences we had to begin from the beginning. Foreign experiences
helped us to avoid errors. It should also1 be said that only research institutions are
still concerned with the selection of forest - tree species while economic organizations
merely sense the usefulness of this work and accept it. In any case progress
in this respect will depend on the benefits which the forestry practice will have
from selection.


With respect to the earlier non - controlled collecting of seed, the production
of seed in selected stands represents at events a step ahead, which is also accepted
by practice. The selection of plus trees remains still in the domain of research institutions
within the framework of the programme for forest tree improvement.


1) Selection of seed stands


The scope and efficiency of these works were different in individual Republics
in dependence of the available staff. Research institutions took an active part in
this by giving instructions or by direct carrying out of all works. In most cases the
specialists from research institutions have been performing revisions of the proposals
submitted by the foresters in practice. This action was amply supported both