Although the presence of root anatomical structures of young Pinus ponderosa seedlings grown in containers of contrasting volume (164 vs. 7000 cm³) was similar, seedlings reared 60 days in the large container had more vascular cambium although the xylem thickness was similar. In addition, seedlings in large containers had nearly twice as many resin ducts within the vascular cambium as their cohorts in small containers. Taproot length closely matched container depth. Though lateral root emission rates were similar between container sizes, large container seedlings had more than 2X the number of lateral roots as those from small containers. These differences in morphophysiological characteristics may be important to seedling establishment on sites that experience dry summer conditions, or for seedlings destined to drier, harsher sites. Further work to elucidate the ramifications of these morphophysiological differences on seedling establishment is warranted.

The Austrian pine (Pinus nigra Arnold) is a species often used in afforestation/reforestation programs in Serbia and region. Seedlings quality has a great role in outplanting survival and growth. Nursery cultural practice has a central influence on seedlings morphological attributes, so we tested seedlings quality from different seedbed densities and seedlings patterns and their outplanting success. Two-year-old bareroot seedlings were grown in very high densities (110 seedlings m^-1 in rows and 750 seedlings m^-2 across all seedbed space) and high densities (65 seedlings m^-1 in rows and 450 seedlings m^-2 across all seedbed space). Morphological attributes (root collar diameter - RCD, height - H, sturdiness coefficient - SQ, root length – Rl, dry weight of shoot - SDW and root - RDW, shoot to root ration - S:R and quality index - QI) of seedlings from different densities were tested in the nursery before outplanting and compare with seedlings survival and growth (root collar diameter – RCD1 and height – H1) one year after field growing. Seedlings from different densities had accepted RCD (>3 mm) for field planting and there were significant differences in their morphological attributes, except Rl and S:R. The best survival was recorded at seedlings from highest seedbed densities (93.33%), opposite with many previous researches. Seedlings grown across all seedbed space (450 seedlings per m^-2) keep their advantage in growth after first year, although survival was lowest (46.67%).

Deforestation in Ghana has led to a forest loss of almost 20% from 9,924,000 ha in 1990 to 7,986,000 ha today. To restore degraded lands, Forest Landscape Restoration has become a critical approach globally. This study was conducted in Ghana focusing on the examples of two forest landscape restoration projects in the Pamu Berekum Forest Reserve: 10-year-old mixed-stands of two to four native tree species and an exotic species stands, including Triplochiton scleroxylon, Terminalia ivorensis, Ceiba pentandra, Nauclea diderrichii and Cedrela odorata at Pamu Berekum 1 and 4-year-old Tectona grandis and 2-year-old Gmelina arborea monoculture stands at Pamu Berekum 2. Estimates of productivity in the restored forests are described, as well as the effects of the restoration on provision of ecosystem service and benefits obtained by local communities. Stand productivity was assessed as mean annual increment of diameter and height, biomass production, and standing volume. For ecosystem services, carbon stocks were calculated for the restored forests; other ecological benefits, as well as financial benefits, were obtained through interviews with fringe communities. The results indicate that FLR can be implemented successfully using different models provided that local communities are involved during the planning and implementation of interventions. When all stands were projected to 10 years, results show higher productivity in T. grandis (331.77 m³ ha^-1) and G. arborea stands (1,785.99 m³ ha^-1) compared to mixed stand (160.41 m³ ha^-1). The Gmelina arborea stand was more productive and had higher carbon stocks (1,350.10 Mg ha^-1) relative to the T. grandis stand (159.89 Mg ha^-1). Both restoration projects were found to deliver important benefits and ecosystem services at the local and national levels, including direct and indirect benefits. The results provide an example for forest/environmental managers on how FLR might be implemented to create multiple benefits at different levels from local communities to the national level. Thus, these results may be useful for guiding successful restoration activities within the context of the ongoing global Forest Landscape Restoration efforts.

Species complex Fusarium sambucinum was frequently isolated from ash stands in Montenegro. Previous researches revealed that it is dangerous pathogen for one-year-old seedlings. The aim of this research was to investigate the influence of temeperature on growth and morphological characteristics of morphotype isolated from one-year-old common ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) seedlings in Montenegro. Growth of Fusarium sambucinum pure cultures on different temperatures was the fastest on 25°C while the absence of growth occurred on 32.5°C. Cultures on optimum temperature were white reddish, aerial and with a lot hyaline, curved multi septate conidia. This research covers basic ecological and morphological characteristics of Fusarium sambucinum strain responsible for high pathogenicity towards one-year-old common ash seedlings in Montenegro.

Investigation of different seed diseases of common ash has great significance due to occurrence of ash dieback across Europe caused by Hymenoscyphus fraxineus Baral, Queloz and Hosoya (T.Kowalski) and still not completely defined strategies about regeneration of this species. Species complex Diaporthe eres are familiar pathogens of common ash. During the monitoring of health condition of common ash in Montenegro Diaporthe eres was frequently isolated from common ash seeds. The aim of this research was to investigate temperature conditions that contribute to the growth of Diaporthe eres strains from Montenegro in infected seeds and histological characteristics of Diaporthe eres spread in seeds. Growth of Diaporthe eres pure cultures on tested temperatures showed the fastest growth on 25°C and the absence of growth on 35°C. Mechanical damage did not significantly contribute to occurrence of infection. Microscopic examination of heavy infected seeds showed that hyphae of D.eres were visible on outer parts of seed spreading inside the core. In this research we investigated some basic bio ecological characteristics of D. eres associated with decline of F. excelsior seed in Montenegro.

The "Forests in Women's Hands" project (Fem4Forest) has started in July 2020 and involves 14 partners from 10 countries (Slovenia, Croatia, Austria, Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Romania, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Ukraine). The project is funded under the Interreg Danube Transnational Program. The leading partner is the Forestry Institute of Slovenia. In Serbia, the project partner is the University of Belgrade - Faculty of Forestry, and the associated strategic partner is the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management - Directorate for Forests.

Symptoms of disease were recorded on leaves of whitebeam (Sorbus aria (L.) Crantz) seedlings in one stand in Montenegro. Analysis showed fungi Ochrospora ariae (Fuckel) Ramsb. and Septoria sorbi Lasch were present on infected trees. Species Seporia sorbi was associated with necrotic reddish and brown spots while species Ochrospora ariae was associated with necrotic reddish spots and yellow pustule of uredinia on leaves. Species were recorded both separately and simultaneously on leaves. This is the first record of Ochrospora ariae and Seporia sorbi on whitebeam (Sorbus aria) in Montenegro. Results will contribute to better knowledge of diseases and better protection of whitebeam (Sorbus aria) in early stages of growth in this part of its areal.

Norway spruce is one of the most commonly used species for new forest planting in Europe. It is planted in a large number of habitats, often without following the previous results in the success of afforestation. In order to improve Norway spruce afforestation, open field tests were established in which developmental phenophases are monitored. The use of planting material of different provenances, which had not previously been tested for habitat conditions, was often the cause of the decline of newly planted forests. Early budburst of Norway spruce causes losses due to the freezing of terminal buds. Norway spruce testing for different habitat conditions in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) was conducted at two ecologically different localities: Srebrenica (eastern part of B&H) and Drinić (western part of B&H). During 3 years, the budburst on the seedlings originating from 6 populations (Han Pijesak 1, Han Pijesak 2, Foča, Olovo, Kneževo and Potoci) was monitored. The budburst dynamics was monitored in 2013, 2015 and 2016 and it was recorded for each seedling in two progeny tests. Seedlings from the Kneževo population budbursted the earliest. The seedlings would start budburst on different days of the year, depending partly on the temperature sums and their origin. The earliest budburst was recorded in 2013 (119^th day of the year in Srebrenica and 121^st day of the year in Drinić). During 2015 and 2016, the budburst started later (125^th day in Srebrenica and 129^th day in Drinić). Temperature cumulants indicate that a smaller sum of temperatures was required for the buburst in the Srebrenica test than in the Drinić test. However, the temperature sums did not clearly indicate the budburst pattern because they were different for each observed year, but the populations ranking was almost the same. This indicates the influence of some other variables on the budburst. The knowing of the data on the budburst dynamics are a prerequisite for a successful selection of starting populations from which planting material is produced and new forests are later planted. Population Kneževo had the earliest budburst but population Han Pijesak 2 had the latest budburst.

Introduced in 1750 as an ornamental tree and then in 1852 as a forest tree species, black locust occupied nowadays 250,000 ha in Romania. The tree species is important for its wood (lumber, poles, firewood, etc.), its honey-related production as well as its environmental role (afforestation of sand dunes and sterile dumps).

One of the most important activities in the middle basin of Jiu River is coal mining. After 1956 this activity has developed very quickly and two power plants were built in Rovinari and Turceni. As a result, sterile dumps and coal ash dumps have established so it was necessary to restore the area by afforestation. This activity started with the sterile dump Viaduct Rovinari, using Austrian pine and black locust, and continued with others such as Cocoreni and Moi. The most used tree species for ecological restoration was black locust. In order to express the stand structure, diameter at breast height (DBH), total height (H) and crown diameter were measured. The soil analysis were performed and showed differences in the content of heavy metals and radionuclides for both location. The study revealed positive correlations between DBH and H, a stronger one for Moi plantation. Our research highlights the capacity of black locust to establish and grow under very difficult site conditions.  

Copper has been used by nursery managers for more than 100 years to suppress fungi and as a fertilizer for more than 50 years. Consequently, nursery seedlings with copper deficiencies are rare, especially for broadleaf species. In many nurseries, soil contains <10 μg-Cu g^-1 and in greenhouse trials, pine seedlings are relatively tolerant of soil levels with 35 μg-Cu g^-1. A million bareroot pine seedlings may contain 50 to 100 g-Cu and, when soil tests indicate low copper levels, managers might apply 1 kg-Cu per million seedlings. In contrast, it may take only 15 g-Cu to produce one million container-grown seedlings. Copper fertilization is typically not required when 30 cm of applied irrigation water contains 0.1 μg-Cu g^-1 (supplying 0.3 kg-Cu ha^-1). This review highlights some of the past and current uses of copper in bareroot and container nurseries with a focus on deficiency and toxicity effects as well as the impact of various copper-based products and provides recommendations on ideal soil and foliar ranges.