engleski

The Incidence of Yellow Mistletoe on Sweet Chestnut in Northwestern Croatia

Yellow mistletoe (Loranthus europaeus Jacq.) is a deciduous epiphytic angiosperm of the Loranthaceae family, in Croatia occuring on nine host species, including sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.). The research of infection of sweet chestnut with yellow mistletoe was carried out in natural sweet chestnut stands in northwestern Croatia, during the winter 2006/07 in the area administered by Croatian Forests Co.Ltd.. In total, 7 management units and 30 compartments, on the area of 4 forest offices were examined. In the research area out of 1680 examined sweet chestnut trees, 5.4 % were infected with yellow mistletoe. On the average there were 3 mistletoe plants on the infected trees, and a maximum of 23 plants on one tree. The site and stand parameters (elevation, site quality, exposure, soil type, plant association and crown closure) were analysed in order to establish whether there was a correlation between these parameters and infection of sweet chestnut with mistletoe. A positive correlation between the tree age and mistletoe infection could be established. The infection was also influenced by the site quality. The compartments of a better site quality were less infected than compartments of unfavorable site conditions. According to the present state of mistletoe incidence, it should be regarded as one of many unfavourable biotic factors for sweet chestnut in Croatia.

Castanea sativa Mill.; Loranthus europaeus Jacq.; infection intensity; stand parameters; site parameters

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