Ecology and variability of European chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) in Modrý Kameň area

European chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) is grown as an important fruit trees in orchards and gardens, but also has successfully expanded into forest stands as an ameliorating and melliferous tree species. The area of Modrý Kameň belongs between the largest and the most famous area of chestnut's cultivation in Slovakia. The first objective of the research will be to evaluate of health status and degree of damage, vitality and dendrological assessment of chestnut's population. Another objective, which connects to previous research (PÁSTOR, 2013), will be the assessment of biological and morphological variability of flowers and nuts of chestnut.