Technical guidelines for genetic conservation and use

Bosnian pine
Pinus heldreichii syn. Pinus leucodermis
G.G. Vendramin1, S. Fineschi2 and B. Fady3
1
Plant Genetics Institute, CNR, Florence, Italy
EUFORGEN
2
Plant Protection Institute, CNR, Florence, Italy
3
INRA, Ecology of Mediterranean Forests, Avignon, France

These Technical Guidelines are intended to assist those who cherish the valuable Bosnian pine
genepool and its inheritance, through conserving valuable seed sources or use in practical
forestry. The focus is on conserving the genetic diversity of the species at the European scale.
The recommendations provided in this module should be regarded as a commonly agreed
basis to be complemented and further developed in local, national or regional conditions.
The Guidelines are based on the available knowledge of the species and on widely accepted
methods for the conservation of forest genetic resources.

Biology and ecology the same tree. Male catkins are

yellow-brown and female conel-
ets reddish. Woody female cones
Bosnian pine (Pinus heldreichii mature in two years. They are
H. Christ. (1863) syn. Pinus leu- sessile or on short peduncles,
codermis Ant. (1864)) is char- usually isolated but sometimes in
acterized by the colour and groups of two or three. Catkins
texture of its very thick are 5–9 cm long and 2.5 cm wide,
bark: ash-grey in young with soft and brittle flattened
trees, becoming ridged scales. Seeds are grey, 5–7 mm
and furrowed with yel- long with a 25–30 mm long wing.
lowish-brown flat- Seed production begins at 15–20
tened and angular years of age, typical of pines.
patches in adult Bosnian pine reaches a
trees. The bark is height of 30–35 m and a diam-
white on twigs. Win- eter of 150 cm. The tree is very
ter buds are non- frost-hardy.
resinous and ovoid Bosnian pine has demon-
or oblong in shape. strated low susceptibility to in-
The buds are reddish sect attacks. However, it can be
brown with silvery seriously damaged by sawflies
margins on the brown (Hymenopterae). Others include
scales. Secondary leaves bark beetle (Pityogenes bidenta-
(needles) are borne in fasci- tus Herbst.), European pine shoot
cles of two and persist for 5–6 moth (Rhyacionia buoliana Denis
years. Needles are denticulate, & Schiffermüller) and pine pro-
6–9 cm long with acute apex and cessionary caterpillar (Thaume-
stomatal lines on both upper and topoea pityocampa Schiff.). Fun-
lower sides. gal attacks by Heterobasidion
Bosnian pine is monoecious; annosum ((Fries) Brefeld) have
inconspicuous female and male also been observed to cause
flowers are borne in conelets on damage.
Pinus heldreichii s
heldreichii syn. Pinus leucodermisBosnian pinePinus heldreichii syn. Pinus leucodermisBosnian

long to the same species or that

Distribution Importance and use
P. leucodermis is a variety of
P. heldreichii.
Together with the mountain pines Pinus heldreichii is found The main value of Bosnian pine is
(P. mugo Turra and P. uncinata only in the western Balkan pe- as an ornamental and landscape
Mill. ex Mirb.), Bosnian pine is ninsula (Albania and Greece) at tree rather than as timber spe-
one of the high-elevation pines 1000–2500 m elevation, reaching cies. However, its wood can be
of the Mediterranean Basin. The the Alpine timberline. Pinus leu- used for general construction.
systematic and phylogenetic re- codermis occurs in the central- The species shows a great
lationships western part of the Balkan adaptability to extreme environ-
peninsula (includ- mental conditions and a great
ing Bosnia, Serbia, colonising potential, making it
Montenegro and suitable for reforestation of ex-
Bulgaria), and in tensive dry areas. It is also resist-
the southern Italian ant to sulphur dioxide, hydrogen
Apennines (Monte fluoride, nitrogen dioxide and
Pollino), where it occupies ozone pollution. Due to its ability
dry, sunny sites at 900–2300 to withstand wind, ice and heavy
m elevation, forming mixed snow, the species is also used
stands with silver fir (Abies for high-altitude reforestation.
alba Mill.) and European Planting is commonly carried
beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) out using 3-year-old seed-
or pure stands on steep and lings. Bosnian pine is planted
dry rocky southern slopes. in the south of Italy not only
because of its adaptability to
high-altitude conditions, but also
because it is less susceptible to
pests than other pine species
(e.g. it is resistant to the Diplodia
tip blight that so seriously affects
black pine (Pinus nigra Arnold)).

between
the Italian and Balkan
populations are unclear. Some
authors, on the basis of mor-
phological traits (height, char-
acteristics of the bark, twig and
foliage colour), suggest that the
populations represent two dif-
ferent species, P. leucodermis
and P. heldreichii. Other authors
consider all populations to be-
syn. Pinus leucod
n pinePinus heldreichii syn. Pinus leucodermisBosnian pinePinus heldreichii syn. Pinus leucoderm

small and isolated; this has prob-

Genetic knowledge Threats to
ably promoted loss of diversity
genetic diversity
through random genetic drift and
Genetic analyses using molecu- mating among relatives. Loss of Bosnian pine is included in the
lar markers have revealed that diversity may have been further IUCN Red List of threatened spe-
the Italian and Greek populations increased by a relatively high lev- cies, although as a low risk entry.
belong to the same genetic line- el of selfing (estimated to be 30% However, the natural distribution
age. The divergence measured in some Italian populations). This of Bosnian pine is currently very
among Italian stands (peripheral high level of selfing was found to limited and fragmented, mostly
populations) was as large as that occur both in natural populations because of forest fires.
measured between Italian and and in planted stands, where tree The Italian natural
Greek stands, although they have density is higher and neigh- range is restricted
been separated for more than bourhood structures less pro- to five small and
15 000 years. Pinus leucodermis nounced. Bosnian pine is a separated stands.
and P. heldreichii should thus be pioneer species; a relatively As a consequence
considered as one species with high level of self-fertilisation of fragmentation and
populations that evolved sepa- may represent a selective subsequent reduced
rately. advantage, particularly when gene flow and increased
The Italian populations were pollen is in short supply such as genetic drift leading to low
found to have lower levels of during the early stages of rec- effective population size, at least
genetic diversity and a smaller olonisation when population size three of these populations are
effective population size than the is small and density low. This susceptible to loosing a consid-
Greek populations. In Italy, the strategy could be of particular erable amount of diversity over
stands are importance after fires, which oc- the coming generations.
cur often in the Italian part of the
distribution range.
dermis Pinus heldr
misBosnian pinePinus heldreichii syn. Pinus leucodermisBosnian pinePinus heldreichii syn. Pinu

of conserving the genetic re- natural regeneration and may al-

Guidelines for genetic
sources of a target species, while so lead to local extinction when
conservation and use
making evolutionary changes adult trees die.
The main strategy adopted so possible over time. Genetic Ex situ conservation should
far for the conservation of this diversity and adaptabil- be used if forests are under
species is linked with national ity can be conserved from pressure or if their genetic re-
parks and other protected areas. one generation to the next sources are of particular interest
In Bulgaria for example, Bosnian by conserving sufficiently (for example the marginal Ital-
pine is conserved in the Pirin large populations of locally ian populations). Ex situ stands
National Park (where a 1200- adapted trees and allowing must be established with care
year-old tree has been recorded) natural regeneration from a to represent the original ge-
and in the Slavyanka Biosphere large-enough number of par- netic diversity of a population.
Reserve which includes the larg- ents. Forest stands of more than Given the high inbreeding
est Bosnian pine habitat on the 20 hectares, established from and low outcrossing rates of
Balkan Peninsula. In Albania, 159 local seed sources and managed this species, ideally seeds
ha of P. heldreichii are located for nature conservation, could should be collected from
within national parks and recent- qualify as gene conservation a large number of trees
ly established integrated nature units for Bosnian pine. (approx. 100) and from
reserves. In Italy, Bosnian pine Exotic or unknown Bosnian trees growing at least 100 me-
is conserved in the Pollino Na- pine material should not be grown ters apart. Ecological conditions
tional Park and Serbia has three within the remaining stands or in of the ex situ conservation site
natural reserves for the species. their vicinity. Natural regenera- should be comparable to those
Throughout the former Yugosla- tion should be closely monitored of the original sites, possibly with
vian republics, Bosnian pine is a and assisted by sowing locally lower environmental stress. Such
protected species. collected seeds if needed. an ex situ collection exists in
Conserving the diversity of Bosnian pine also needs to southern Italy (Pollino mountain,
Bosnian pine must include not be protected from two common Calabria), covering approximate-
only ecological and genetic con- man-made disturbances: forest ly 60 hectares.
siderations at local and landscape fires and over-grazing. The Ital-
scales but also social, economic ian populations are under a
and legal issues. While national particularly intense threat
parks and nature reserves are a from both. Fires
necessary first step for conserv- can cause rapid
ing this species, another indis- and drastic re-
pensable step is acquiring and duction of the
compiling knowledge on existing population
forest genetic resources. This size by killing
information is available for the adult trees with
Italian and Greek populations but consequent losses
is still lacking for the rest of the in seed-
natural range. ling genetic
Designating in situ gene con- diversity and
servation units where appropri- adaptive poten-
ate forest management strate- tial. Intensive
gies are used is an efficient way grazing prevents
Pinus heldreichii
Pinus heldreichii syn. Pinus leucodermisBosnian pinePinus heldreichii syn. Pinus leucoderm

Distribution range of Bosnian pine

 syn. Pinus leu
misBosnian pinePinus heldreichii syn. Pinus leucodermisBosnian pinePinus heldreichii syn. Pin

EUFORGEN

The series of these Technical

Selected bibliography
Guidelines and the distribution
maps were produced by mem-
bers of the EUFORGEN Net-
Avorio, S. 1984. Il pino loricato (Pinus leucodermis Ant.). Annali Istituto
works. The objective is to identify Sperimentale Selvicoltura 15:77­–153.
minimum genetic conservation
Boscherini, G., M. Morgante, P. Rossi and G.G. Vendramin 1994. Allozyme
requirements in the long term in and chloroplast DNA variation in Italian and Greek populations of Pinus
Europe, in order to reduce the leucodermis. Heredity 73:284–290.
overall conservation cost and to Bucci, G., G.G. Vendramin, L. Lelli and F. Vicario 1997. Assessing genetic
improve the quality of standards divergence of Pinus leucodermis Ant. endangered populations: use of
biochemical and molecular markers for conservation purposes. Theoretical
in each country. and Applied Genetics 95:1138–1146.
Morgante, M., G.G. Vendramin and A.M.Olivieri 1991. Mating system analysis in
Pinus leucodermis Ant.: detection of self-fertilization in natural populations.
Heredity 67:197–203.
Penev, N. 1966. Scientific basis for increasing of the productivity of Pinus
Citation: Vendramin G.G., Fineschi peuce and P. heldreichii forests. BAS Publishing House, Sofia, Bulgaria.
190 pp. (In Bulgarian)
S. and Fady B. 2008. EUFOR-
GEN Technical Guidelines for Simpozijum o munici Pinus heldreichii Christ., Dečani, Kosovo, 4-7.IX.1972.
Zbornik radova, Beograd, 1975. (Symposium on Pinus heldreichii Christ.,
genetic conservation and use for Dečani, Kosovo, 4-7.IX.1972. Proceedings, Belgrade 1975. (In Serbian with
Bosnian pine (Pinus heldreichii). summaries in German, English, French, and Albanian)).
Bioversity International, Rome,
Italy. 6 pages.

Drawings: Pinus heldreichii, Clau-

dio Giordano. © 2003 Bioversity
International.

ISBN 978-92-9043-789-5

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