The chloroplast genome has been widely addressed to describe genetic diversity in tree species with regard to phylogeographic studies. In contrast, there is little information on the pattern of genetic differentiation in tolerant and sensitive tree populations, responding to different types of environmental stress. The results demonstrate that chloroplast microsatellites markers are useful tools for elucidating and for testing the pattern of genetic differentiation in stress-exposed populations of Norway spruce, offering to prove the feasibility of marker-aided selection in future

Interactions between atmospheric deposition and nutrient status or soil condition were studied using correlation analysis of the principal factors values for the year 1989. In case of both species, especially sulphur and calcium (factor 1) input is related to high foliar content of sulphur and calcium. The same influence can be detected for nitrogen (factor 3). Nitrogen inputs on Scots pine stands influenced the magnesium sufficient in a negative way

Small attention has been still addressed to the study of ozone effects on seminatural vegetation. Following this direction we selected an ozone heavily exposed area in Northern Italy, where the development of visible injuries on leaves of common pasture herbs were observed. The selected area, an alpine pasture located at Moggio belongs to the Level II permanent monitoring network of the ICP-Forest program. The ozone exposure mapping exercise made on the whole regional domain estimated for this area an AOT40f of 32000 ppb.h as 1999 and 2000 years average

The solution for waste disposal being formed in the production of aluminium in Aluminium plant in Ziar nad Hronom is presented. It is namely recultivation of waste pile, it means biological reclamation. Averagely high vegetation is considered the most effective one for the reclamation of devastated areas and for creating natural connection of different components of this environment. Experimental plantations on the pile established in the years 1993-1996 by FRI Zvolen unanimously confirm this finding

Thirty Atriplex lines were examined for potential habitat improvement and phytoremediation of selenium (Se) contaminated sites. Studies were conducted to determine the biomass production, Se accumulation, and resistance of each line to the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua, an agriculturally important insect. Plants were tested using three salinity treatments: (1) control, no Se; (2) NaCl and CaCl2 salts and 1 mg l-1 Se (12.7 μM) added as sodium selenate; and (3) iso-osmotic to treatment 2 containing high concentrations of sulfate and 1 mg l-1 Se added as sodium selenate. Insect bioassays measured survival, growth, and development. Atriplex patula, A. spongiosa 415862, A. hortensis, A. hortensis 379088 and A. hortensis 379092 were among the top biomass producers and Se accumulators, yet they exhibited significantly reduced insect growth, development, and survival. High background sulfate strongly reduced Se accumulation, suggesting that phytoremediation potential is greatest in saline areas having low to moderate sulfate levels. However, these lines grew well in high salinity soils, indicating possible use as a self-seeding cover crop to improve habitat. All plant lines grown in control and high sulfate salinity treatments are acceptable oviposition sites for S. exigua, indicating that these plants would help reduce populations of this key agricultural pest.