Stem diameter changes before bud opening in Zelkova serrata saplings

It is well known that stems of woody plants shrink and swell diurnally. These fluctuations of stem diameter are induced mainly by the changes of water contents in plants, which are caused by the combination of leaf transpiration and root absorption of water. This implies that dormant-like deciduous broadleaved trees in a leafless state should show no or less changes in stem diameter. However, some physiological activities in woody plants are also known to precede their winter bud opening. Whether and how diameter changes occur in deciduous tree stems during winter was investigated using Zelkova serrata saplings in a leafless state. Measurements of stem diameter changes were done for more than 4 months continuously. The saplings showed distinct diameter changes with periodicities from diurnal to a few weeks, and these changes were initiated 2 months before winter bud opening. These results indicate that some physiological and/or developmental activities occur in the stem of deciduous trees before winter bud opening, and do not correspond to changes in water relations as a result of leaf transpiration. These internal activities cause fluctuations in stem diameter prior to winter bud opening in deciduous trees.