ANALYSIS OF ECOLOGICAL AND BIOLOGICAL FEATURES OF CASTANEA SATIVA MILL. IN NATURAL AND CLIMATE CONDITIONS OF THE CENTRAL BLACK EARTH REGION (ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE VORONEZH REGION)

Knowledge of species ecology and biology in general and characteristics of its acclimatization in a particular region are the basis for its successful selection. In this work, the authors present the results of long-term phenological observations of Castanea sativa Mill. since its planting (1967). Ecological and biological analysis has showed some discrepancies in the passage of phenophases. If the growth processes were not completed before the onset of the autumn-winter cold weather, then in recent years the leaf fall ends at the end of October, annual shoots lignify, growth and generative buds are formed. But, in general, it allows us to draw conclusions about the correspondence of the seasonal rhythms of development of the studied sowing chestnut as an introduced species to their local ecological-phytocenotic analogues. It was experimentally established that the fruits of the chestnut do not need pre-sowing treatment, because seed germination is high (70%). The groups of leading factors influencing the stability and development of the species as a whole (in the study area) have been identified. These are: lack of heat in summer, which affects the formation of fruits; short autumn period with high temperature drops, which limits the ripening of the shoots; different spring periods, contributing to the loss of hardening; unstable winter with sharp cold snaps and thaws, intensifying the nature of winter damage