The anatomical traits of trunk wood and their relevance to oak (Quercus robur L.) vitality

• DOI: 10.1007/s10342-014-0801-y
• Publication Date: 2014-03-25T05:59:20Z
• Authors: Mirela Tulik
• Keywords: Vitality; Quercus robur

Oaks’ decline in vitality is attributed to a complex process that involves interactions of several factors leading increased trees’ mortality. This study investigates the structure trunk wood oaks with reference its physiological role hydraulic conductivity. On basis crown condition, were classified into three health groups: healthy trees, declining trees and dead trees. Anatomical traits wood, such as annual ring width, vessel density, diameter earlywood theoretical conductivity, measured calculated. The narrowest rings formed by cambium observed oaks. These also characterized smallest vessels, not only period occurrence dieback symptoms, but during their whole life. It suggested formation narrow vessels small increases susceptibility tree decay. A reduced implies changes conductivity oak trunks thus impairs water transport, which affects considered have characteristics natural selection leads elimination weakest