Analysis of physiological parameters of spruce trees as indicators of spruce dieback in the Spiš region

Abstract

This contribution is dealing with the large-scale dieback of spruce stands in the region Horný Spiš. The physiology of Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst) in this area is influenced and limited by a range of natural and anthropogenic ecological factors, acting in general in interactive way. The work summarises the results of an eco-physiologically oriented research evaluating physiological and so also health status of the relevant spruce stands. The research was running in year 2004 on two monitoring plots selected at the locality "Hliníky" in the region Horny Spiš. One plot showed symptoms of acute stand decomposition, the other lacked visible damage symptoms. The age of spruce trees on both plots was 80 years (adult trees). The analysis was focussed on appropriate indicators - biomarkers indicating damage to the spruce assimilatory apparatus as a tool for solving the issue of massive dieback of spruce stands. There have been processed the results of measurements of parameters of chlorophyll a fluorescence and the values of concentrations of assimilatory pigments.