Selection Assessment and Reproduction of the Pedunculate Oak Gene Pool Assigned for Afforestation in the Lower Volga Region

Work on the selection assessment and reproduction of the gene pool of pedunculate oak for afforestation in the Lower Volga region is presented. The importance of preserving and studying the diversity of oak climatypes playing a key role in the formation of forest ecosystems in this arid region is considered. In the process of selection assessment of the oak ecotypes, it is found that, when choosing the most promising plants within ecotypes, attention should be paid to leading factors such as flowering, fruiting, drought resistance, and pollen quality, as well as the height of trees and the degree of damage caused to them by pests and diseases. It is revealed that oak propagation via seeds shows promise for afforestation. To obtain high-quality offspring, it is important to take into account the peculiarities of fruiting in different phases of acorn development and potential yields. Studies have shown that oak plantations in the Chapurnikovskaya and Grigorovaya gullies are characterised by the most intensive growth and development rates and early flowering and fruiting, as well as by the length of the catkins. In these geographical areas, there is also a predominance of trees with a male type of flowering (57–63%), while in the old-age plantations of the Volga–Akhtuba floodplain, this indicator is 13–28%. A high transpiration intensity (618.3) was noted in oaks from the clone plantation of the Novoanninsky forestry, which indicates the degree of water saturation of the plant’s leaf cells and their high drought resistance. The analysis of the seed material showed the potential and actual yield of oak in the range of 4455–6572 individuals, which makes the studied plantations promising for further selection. To ensure the safety and improvement of seed quality in the designated areas, it is necessary to carry out regular phytosanitary measures to protect against diseases and pests, as well as to carry out agrotechnical care, which will help reduce the number of acorns damaged by insects and, as a result, reduce their mortality.