VARIABILITY IN NEEDLE TRANSVERSE ANATOMY OF PICEA ABIES (L.) H. KARST.: A CASE STUDY FROM ČEMERNIK MOUNTAIN, SERBIA

Norway spruce is an important forest species facing the risk of range shift from its current distributional boundaries.This study analyzes the morphological and anatomical characteristics of Norway spruce needles with the aim of determining and understanding the variability and population diversity of this species on Mt.emernik in Serbia, a site outside its native range.Differences between one-year-old and two-year-old needles from Norway spruce trees aged 100 and 50 years were investigated.Morpho-anatomical parameters, including needle length, width and thickness, vascular bundle diameter and area, and the number and diameter of resin canals, were analyzed.The research findings and statistical analyses confirm that the old trees possess exceptional traits and represent a valuable gene pool.Considering that ecological valence is a heritable trait, i.e., the ability to adapt is determined by the plant's genetic basis.A selected phenogroup of three old trees demonstrated successful adaptation to the emernik site, suggesting their potential for wider application and further introduction into other mountainous regions with similar conditions where the species is non-native.