THE SURVEY SHOWED 95% SURVIVAL RATE OF BOXWOOD TREES IN NATURE

In the autumn of 2021, WWF together with the partners of the Colchis boxwood conservation project – Apsheronsk forestry college and the "Environmental Control and Forest Protection "Interuniversity Laboratory"" Association - with the financial support of Naturella brand, planted 3,500 boxwood trees seedlings in places where it previously grew.

A temporary scientific group of Project partners visited the site to check the condition of plants after a snowy winter and find out how well young trees have rooted in nature.

A detailed examination showed that the planted boxwood trees overwintered perfectly. Due to heavy rains, the planting sites were well covered with soil and the seedlings successfully rooted, with the presence of vegetation shoots in many plants as evidence. Scientists have stated at least 95% survival rate of boxwood trees, which is a very high indicator. The latter corresponds to the correct preparation of boxwood trees at the stage of growing in a greenhouse and strengthening in the school department of the nursery.

Of course, nothing is perfect in nature. During the inspection, scientific consultants found symptoms of fungal diseases such as fusarium wilt and volutella in a small number of plants. In addition, some seedlings had some broken parts of the crown. This was probably due to the pressure of dense snow cover or damage by wild animals. It is also worth noting that some of the plants have acquired an orange foliage color, which, according to scientists, is not the result of damage by an infectious agent. This is a physiological reaction to excess heat and sunlight during the maintenance of seedlings in the school forestry.

"According to the results of the survey, we can say that, firstly, the seedlings showed a high survival rate. Secondly, a serious disease of the Cylindrocladium buxicola, intrinsic to boxwood trees, hasn't been found with plants, - concluded Elena Cherkasova, Senior Coordinator of Russian Caucasus Ecoregional Office WWF-Russia –In addition, the plants were treated with phytostimulating drugs and fungicides that protect plants from fungal infections."

Photo in preview: (c) Mikhail Klimenko / WWF-Russia.