Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Laura Yasmin Flores López Author-Workplace-Name: Instituto de Biotecnología y Ecología Aplicada, Universidad Veracruzana, Campus para la Cultura, las Artes y el Deporte, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico Author-Name: César Valenzuela Encinas Author-Workplace-Name: Instituto de Estudios Ambientales, Universidad de la Sierra Juárez, Ixtlán de Juárez, Oaxaca, Mexico Author-Name: Eulogio De la Cruz Torres Author-Workplace-Name: Departamento de Biología, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares, La Marquesa, Ocoyoacac, Mexico Author-Name: María de Lourdes Palafox Chávez Author-Workplace-Name: Departamento de Radioterapia, Centro Estatal de Cancerología Dr. Miguel Dorantes Mesa, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico Author-Name: Ivar Diego Aceves Sánchez Author-Workplace-Name: Departamento de Radioterapia, Centro Estatal de Cancerología Dr. Miguel Dorantes Mesa, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico Author-Name: Lourdes Georgina Iglesias Andreu Author-Workplace-Name: Instituto de Biotecnología y Ecología Aplicada, Universidad Veracruzana, Campus para la Cultura, las Artes y el Deporte, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico Title: Hormetic growth of Pinus pseudostrobus seedlings exposed to low-dose gamma and X-ray irradiation Abstract: Mexico ranks among the countries with the highest deforestation rates, increasing the demand for high-quality forest seedlings of valuable species such as Pinus pseudostrobus Lindl., which face germination limitations due to seed dormancy and low viability. Ionising radiation has emerged as an alternative pregermination treatment capable of inducing adaptive responses in plants through hormesis. This study evaluated the effects of different doses of gamma radiation (60Co) and high-energy X-rays (linear accelerator, 6 MeV) on the germination, growth, and quality of P. pseudostrobus seedlings. A total of 1 440 seeds were irradiated per radiation source with 12 doses (0-25 Gy) and sown under nursery conditions in a completely randomised design. Germination parameters, morphological traits, photosynthetic pigment content, and quality indices were analysed. With both radiation sources, low doses (0.5-1.5 Gy) significantly enhanced germination, chlorophyll content, and seedling height and diameter, while doses above 15 Gy inhibited these responses. The LD50 (median lethal dose) was estimated at 20 Gy for gamma rays and 12 Gy for X-rays, whereas GR50 (median growth reduction dose) exceeded 45 Gy in both treatments. These findings demonstrate that low radiation doses elicit a beneficial hormetic effect in P. pseudostrobus, representing a viable biotechnological approach to improve seedling production and ecological reforestation efficiency. Keywords: forest biotechnology, ionising radiation, hormesis, lethal dose 50 (LD50), growth reduction 50 (GR50), low-dose radiation Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 107-118 Volume: 72 Issue: 3 Year: 2026 DOI: 10.17221/83/2025-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/83/2025-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-202603-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:72:y:2026:i:3:id:83-2025-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Ivanna Kulbanska Author-Workplace-Name: National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine Author-Name: Maryna Shvets Author-Workplace-Name: Polissia National University, Zhytomyr, Ukraine Author-Name: Svitlana Matkovska Author-Workplace-Name: Polissia National University, Zhytomyr, Ukraine Author-Name: Tetiana Melnyk Author-Workplace-Name: Sumy National Agrarian University, Sumy, Ukraine Author-Name: Vasyl Zayachuk Author-Workplace-Name: National University of Forestry and Wood Technology, Lviv, Ukraine Author-Name: Nataliya Horbenko Author-Workplace-Name: National University of Forestry and Wood Technology, Lviv, Ukraine Author-Name: Oleh Zymaroiev Author-Workplace-Name: Bogdan Khmelnytskyi Melitopol State Pedagogical University, Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine Author-Name: Anastasiia Zymaroieva Author-Workplace-Name: Bogdan Khmelnytskyi Melitopol State Pedagogical University, Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine Author-Workplace-Name: Center for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere (ECONOVO), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark Title: Degradation of Betula spp. under the influence of biotic factors in the forests of Ukrainian Polissia Abstract: The paper examines the impact of biotic factors - mainly pests and pathogens - on the degradation of Betula spp. in the forests of Ukrainian Polissia. The taxonomic structure of the identified mycobiota includes representatives of 9 genera, 8 families, 5 orders, 4 classes, and two divisions (Ascomycota 44.4%, Basidiomycota 55.6%). Xylotrophic Basidiomycetes, particularly Fomitopsis betulina and Fomes fomentarius, pose the greatest threat due to their ability to destroy wood tissues. The bacterial pathogen Lelliottia nimipressuralis, the agent of wetwood, also plays a major role, impairing xylem water transport and causing systemic physiological imbalance in affected trees. Entomofauna significantly contributes to degradation processes. A total of 31 insect species were recorded, belonging to five orders, 24 families, and 29 genera, with Coleoptera being the most numerous (32.3%). The most harmful are xylophagous species (e.g. Agrilus betuleti, Rhagium mordax) and phytophagous species (e.g. Geometra papilionaria, Parornix betulae), which cause mechanical tissue damage and facilitate secondary infections. The results indicate that pathogenic complexes intensify under environmental stress, accelerating the decline of Betula spp. stands. These findings underscore the necessity for ongoing phytosanitary monitoring and adaptive management measures to mitigate further degradation risks in the birch forests of Polissia. Keywords: harmfulness, pathogen, pests, symptoms, wood-destroying fungi Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 148-160 Volume: 72 Issue: 3 Year: 2026 DOI: 10.17221/96/2025-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/96/2025-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-202603-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:72:y:2026:i:3:id:96-2025-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Eva Abramuszkinová Pavlíková Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Engineering, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Jana Stachová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Local and Regional Studies, Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Kristina Somerlíková Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Regional and Business Economics, Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Eliška Svobodová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Regional and Business Economics, Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Zdeněk Šilhan Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Regional Development, Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Kateřina Holušová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forest and Wood Product Economics and Policy, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Environmental Science and Natural Resources, Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Are Czechs interested in employment in forestry? Abstract: This study analyses the professional interests and motivations of people regarding forestry careers. An online survey (N = 162) was conducted in May 2025. The study identifies the profile of a typical forestry candidate as an individual from a rural area, regardless of gender, who prioritises job security and personal satisfaction over high financial reward. The findings confirm that while forestry students show the strongest interest, intrinsic motivation and a personal relationship with nature are the primary drivers across the board. The key results indicate that practical field experience and communication with professionals significantly bolster career interest. Furthermore, the emerging generation of foresters demonstrates an 'ecologically realistic' perspective, favouring sustainable management and biocentric values over traditional paradigms. The study suggests that to combat the declining workforce, forestry communication should leverage these intrinsic values and increase practical engagement during university studies. Respondents assigned the greatest importance to statements reflecting biocentric and ecocentric values, emphasising the intrinsic value of forests, ecosystem impact considerations, and their role in environmental balance and human well-being. Keywords: attitude, career, motivation, values, well-being Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 136-147 Volume: 72 Issue: 3 Year: 2026 DOI: 10.17221/10/2026-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/10/2026-JFS.html File-Format: text/html File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/10/2026-JFS.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-202603-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:72:y:2026:i:3:id:10-2026-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Paula Puškárová Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Commerce, Bratislava University of Economics and Business, Bratislava, Slovakia Author-Name: Mikuláš Černota Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of International Relations, Bratislava University of Economics and Business, Bratislava, Slovakia Author-Workplace-Name: Laurea University of Applied Sciences, Helsinki, Finland Author-Name: Ján Slivinský Author-Workplace-Name: State Forests of TANAP, Tatranská Lomnica, Slovakia Title: Balancing conservation and intervention: Managing forest diebacks in Slovakia's Tatra National Park Abstract: Disturbance regimes in Central European mountain forests are changing under the ongoing climate change, raising questions about how protected areas should respond to increasingly frequent windthrow and bark beetle outbreaks. In Tatra National Park, a major windstorm in 2004 triggered a landscape-scale bark beetle eruption that challenged long-standing expectations that non-intervention alone could safeguard forest ecosystems. Using the Socio-Ecological Systems framework, we combined long-term field observations with archival sources and stakeholder interviews to examine how ecological dynamics, governance structures, and actor perspectives interacted during and after the outbreak. We show that warming, abundant post-storm breeding substrate, and legacy Norwegian spruce (Picea abies) monocultures reduced forest resilience and enabled successive beetle waves. Governance fragmentation led to delayed decision-making, allowing large volumes of wind-felled timber to remain untreated and facilitating its spread into high-naturalness stands. In contrast, evidence from other European countries suggests that timely, spatially focused measures can reduce outbreak duration without compromising conservation values. Our results indicate that in disturbance-prone, spruce-dominated forest systems experiencing climate change, a combination of strict protection in core areas and timely, selective measures in adjacent zones is more likely to maintain resilience and support conservation outcomes than strictly passive or fully interventionist approaches. Keywords: climate change, forest disturbance, protected areas, socio-ecological systems Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 119-135 Volume: 72 Issue: 3 Year: 2026 DOI: 10.17221/87/2025-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/87/2025-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-202603-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:72:y:2026:i:3:id:87-2025-JFS