Whole-tree autumn phenology: delving into above- and belowground wood formation
The novelty of my work is to study the whole tree phenology, including not only leaf and stem but also coarse and fine roots. Contrary to the prevailing assumption that the seasonal growth of coarse roots mirrors aboveground stem, we found that coarse root growth does not halt in autumn; xylem cells continue to be formed throughout the winter. Elongation of fine roots was also observed in autumn and winter, supporting the idea of a continuous belowground growth that is decoupled from the seasonal aboveground growth. Our findings hold implications for understanding tree functioning, in particular the seasonal wood formation, the environmental controls of tree growth and the carbon reserves dynamics.
