Диверзитет храста лужњака (Quercus robur L.) / Diversity of Pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur L.)

The first part of the monograph presents the studies of pedunculate oak by the researchers dealing with this species in the area of Serbia and neighbouring countries, with reference to oak significance in ancient Slavic mythology, geological age and trace fossils, and the state of pedunculate oak forests in this area in the past and nowadays. The monograph is focused on the results of multiannual research of pedunculate oak diversity from the aspect of genetic-ecological variability in pedunculate oak populations on natural sites in the area of Serbia, some of which were published and presented by the author to the domestic and foreign scientific public. The results of individual and population variability of morpho-anatomic, physological, phenological and chemical parameters were analyzed in the complex of environmental conditions and they proved a high population and intraspecific variability of pedunculate oyk. Most of the analyzed parameters of variability are under significant effects of both the environment and genotype (leaf morphological characters, stomatal characters, pollen characters, phenological characters) and smaller number of the analyzed characters is under a more significant environmental effect (content of macroelements and secondary metabolites – flavonoids). Individual variability, the significance of which is emphasized, points to the species’ adaptive capacity. It is emphasized that some of the analyzed parameters (stomatal and pollen characters, flavonoid content) can also be used as indicators of environmental condition. The lack of multidisciplinary research on pedunculate oak was pointed out, as well as the significance of combining several analytical methods. The directions of further studies were suggested, since the previous research did not include all pedunculate oak natural sites, and other significant markers in the group of secondary metabolites. The study results have both scientific and practical significance in the species systematics and in the distinction of pedunculate oak early and late leaf flushing forms. Pedunculate oak is, in addition to being an autochthonous specieas, also one of economically most valuable forest species in this area, and the study results can be applied also in environmental protection and in the dvelopment of afforestation strategies in Serbia. The monograph is particularly significant because it brings together all the results on pedunculate oak so far published by the author, as pedunculate oak studies of this type and scope have not been performed in Serbia to date.