Pattern of xylem phenology in conifers of cold ecosystems at the Northern Hemisphere

Abstract

The interaction between xylem phenology and climate assesses forest growth and productivity and carbon storage across biomes under changing environmental conditions. We tested the hypothesis that patterns of wood formation are maintained unaltered despite the temperature changes across cold ecosystems.

Wood microcores were collected weekly or biweekly throughout the growing season for periods varying between 1 and 13 years during 1998-2014 and cut in transverse sections for assessing the onset and ending of the phases of xylem differentiation.

Keywords

• xylem
• phenology
• wood
• cambium
• cell differentiation
• cell production
• climate change
• conifers
• growth
• meristem
• secondary wall formation