The article presents a state of art of forest decline inventories in Slovenia. The first part deals with methodological and technological aspects of forest health inventories, while the second one describes some hints and directions of further forest inventories development.

Forest soil was sampled on two different observation plots by following well described methodology. Sampling sites had been chosen in place with typical soil conditions for the observed forest site. To make sampling easier some natural forest site characteristics were considered. Mg, Zn and Cd were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy in all samples. Results were statistically evaluated and different sources of variance were estimated. It was also estimated whether the number of samples was sufficient for our requirement for accuracy of analytical results.

Types of ectomycorrhizae on Norway spruce were determined in soil cores from two differently polluted forest research plots from the emission zone of Sostanj Thermal Power Plant (TPP). The two plots are comparable regarding site characteristics, but are differently polluted by the emmissions from the TPP. During the vegetations season 1993, 21 soil cores were taken from each plot. In these all fine roots and ectomycorrhizal roots tips were counted and the percentages of different types were calculated. Additionally, soil mycorrhizae from underneath fungal fruit bodies were taken in order to characterize new types of ectomycorrhizae. Classical anatomical methods and molecular tools were applied for identification. 17 types of ectomycorrhizae were determined on 28443 root tips in soil cores from the heavily polluted plot (Zavodnje). The predominant types were Paxillus involutus, Xerocomus badius, Piceirhiza parallela and Piceirhiza inflata. On the less polluted plot (Mislinja) 24 different types were determined on 38502 root tips in equal volume and number of soils cores. The most frequent types were Hydnum rufescens, Amphinema byssoides, Piceirhiza oleiferans, Cenococcum geophilum and Lactarius lignyotus. Mycobioindication of forest site pollution through selective sensitive (here Hydnum rufescens), in comparison to unsensitive (here Paxillus involutus), fungal species in ectomycorrhizae is discussed.

The evaluation of data on the forest tree condition is weak point in forest decline monitoring as it enables only a very rough estimation of the state of forest health. The paper analyses the interpretation of the forest tree defoliation data in order to estimate their relevance and applicability. Quality control results of defoliation assessment in Slovenia are presented and the state of defoliation with its changes in the year 1987, 1991, 1993, 1994 on the 16 km grid.

Seven ectomycorrhizae on oak (Quercus robur L.) from a Slovenian forest stand are described, five of them for the first time in detail. Four of these species could be identified (Lactarius chrysorrheus (Fr.) Fr., L. serifluus DC. ex Fr., Xerocomus subtomentosus (L. ex Fr.) Quel., X. armeniacus (Quel.) Quel., one unidentified species was given a preliminary name ("Quercirhiza squamosa"). Two identified species, already comprehensively characterized on other tree species, are presented shortly (Laccaria amethystina (Bolt ex Hooper) Murr., Cenococcum geophilum Fr.). Whereas some of the encountered species show considerable host specifity with oak (Lactarius chrysorrheus, L. serifluus and, in a lesser degree Xerocomus armeniacus), other species have a broader host range and can even grow with conifers (Xerocomus subtomentosus, Laccaria amethystina, Cenococcum geophilum). A key for all species was established. A possible use of ectomycorrhizal species as bioindicators is discussed.