Correlation of pedunculate oak leaf traits in situ and ex situ in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

Abstract Pedunculate oak is an economically and ecologically very valuable species at the European level and for Bosnia and Hercegovina, and research into variation of this species is very important. In 2007, pedunculate oak leaf material was collected in 27 populations in Bosnia and Herzegovina along with seeds, which were used to establish a provenance trial. In the trial, leaves were collected in 2021, and 14 morphological traits were measured in both types of material. Analysis of variance showed generally non-significant differences between generations, but significant variation among populations and population-by-generation interactions. However, the correlations between generations were non-significant for most traits, and neither were the correlations with climatic parameters. The results indicate both genetic and environmental effects on leaf morphology. The utility of leaf morphology for gene conservation is shortly discussed.