Evaluation of the condition of dendrological species in Academic park in Belgrade

Abstract

This paper presents the results of the conducted evaluation of the health condition and seed yield of the dendrological species in Academic Park in Belgrade. Both scores for each individual tree and average scores for all trees within each plant genus under observation were analyzed. The health condition of 126 trees belonging 19 genera was examined while the seed yield was assessed for the total of 132 trees. The best as-is health and physiological condition was observed in the following species: nettle trees, honey locusts, pagoda trees, cedars and individual ginkgo and tulip poplar trees. Horse chestnuts, Eastern black walnuts and birch trees proved less resilient to biotic and abiotic damages. Japanese pagoda trees had the best seed yield. There were no significant differences in fruit-bearing between the two years of research, although there were different scores at the individual level. Of all deciduous species recorded, which were prevailing, about 60% had very good seed yield in both years of monitoring, while some 20% of trees bore no fruits. Coniferous trees had higher fruit-bearing score in 2015 (47.4%) than in 2016 (43.0%), whereas about 10% of all conifers bore no fruit at all.