In this study, we used leaf geometric morphometrics to quantify the differences among Quercus cerris L. and Quercus frainetto Ten. and their populations in the Sumadija region in Serbia. We sampled 2200 leaves from eight populations and on each leaf recorded 13 landmarks. To analyze how leaf morphology varies across species and populations, we used Procrustes ANOVA, a two-block partial least-squares analysis, a principal component analysis and a canonical variate analysis. The results showed a clear discrimination between species, followed by different levels of leaf shape variability in Q. cerris and Q. frainetto. The leaves of Q. cerris displayed higher levels of variability and higher differences among populations compared to Q. frainetto. The patterns of population grouping in the two species greatly differed, indicating that in these species different factors contribute to intraspecific variability. This study provides preliminary results of the leaf morphometric variability of oak species in the Sumadija region in Serbia. Future studies should include genetic and environmental analyses to understand the origins of phenotypic differences between species and populations, and to fully recognize which factors mostly determine relationships between taxa.

The improvement of life quality in rural areas is an overall goal of all development strategies in the Western Balkans countries. Rural tourism represents the quality option for diversification of income and employment opportunities in Tropolje region (Canton 10 in Bosnia and Herzegovina). Therefore, the goal of this study is to identify strategic advantages and disadvantages for tourism development in Tropolje region of Dinaric Alps and provide guidelines for its development. The SWOT analysis combined with AHP method was used. In seven domains, 29 strengths, 31 weakness, 25 opportunities and 24 threats were determined, with total intensity 154, 202, 140 and 144 and average rating of influence intensity 5.3, 6.5, 5.6, 5.8, respectively. A significant advantage for tourism development were linked to short supply chains based on natural and cultural heritage of the region.

The paper presents the results of the genetic diversity analysis of Sessile oak populations from the area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) "Avala" which were obtained using SSR markers. Genomic DNA was isolated from leaf tissue of 50 test trees from two populations. Genotyping was performed using microsatellite markers QpZAG110, QpZAG15, QpZAG1/2, QpZAG3/64, QpZAG36, QpZAG1/5, and QrZAG108. All loci were polymorphic with the high mean value of PIC (0.934). The total number of alleles determined in the studied population was 127. The range of alleles varies from 15 (QpZAG1/5, QpZAG1/2) to 23 (QpZAG110) with an average of 18.14 alleles per locus. The number of effective alleles ranges from 8.273 (QpZAG1/5) to 13.830 (QrZAG108). The mean value of the gene flow (Nm) was 8.522 with a range from 5.548 to 14.876. Overall genetic diversity was high (He = 0.909) and ranged from 0.879 to 0.928. Due to the excess of homozygotes observed at most loci, a significant inbreeding coefficient was detected (Fis = 0.796). The Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) confirmed that genetic diversity was more pronounced within populations (77.5%) than between them (1.6%). The average allele frequency (Q) of the studied populations shows that the individuals originate from two or more populations. The obtained results can be used for the adoption of appropriate plans for the management of protected natural resources and the management of this ecologically and economically important tree species. Also, the obtained results enable the adoption of the necessary measures for the conservation of sessile oak genetic resources by in-situ and ex-situ methods. Based on the research results, the use of this important species can be recommended for its reintroduction in optimal microclimatic conditions, as well as in the selection of the best individuals for the reintroduction.

Leaf morphology is at a certain level defined by the ways in which plants adapt to different habitats, especially in large trees. In this study, morphological variations in leaf size and shape of the Hungarian oak (Quercus frainetto Ten.) growing on different soil types (lithic leptosol, vertisol, cambisol) were investigated in the central part of Serbia (Sumadija). The information on soil type was obtained using a digitalized soil map of the Republic of Serbia, while leaf traits were characterized by geometric morphometric methods. Landmark analysis and leaf measurements showed significant differences among the analyzed groups, with individuals growing on nutrient-poor, shallow soils having smaller leaves with greater lobation. The observed differences suggest that the levels of soil productivity influence variations in leaf patterns. More studies on a larger sample size and along a broader spatial scale are needed to fully understand the differences in the patterns of leaf morphological variation in Q. frainetto.

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