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Published on: November 9, 2019
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Wood Formation Modeling - A Research Review and Future Perspectives
Annemarie H Eckes-Shephard1, Fredrik Charpentier Ljungqvist2,3,4, David M Drew5
1Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Frontiers in Plant Science
|April 11, 2022
Summary
This review systematically catalogs 17 wood formation models, identifying key drivers and open questions. Enhanced modeling can improve understanding of tree carbon sequestration.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Ecology
- Forestry
Background:
- Wood formation is a critical process studied across disciplines, with models exploring external (climatic) and internal (hormonal) influences on cell differentiation.
- Existing models, dating from 1968 to 2020, vary in complexity and focus on different drivers of wood development.
Approach:
- This review provides the first systematic cataloging and process-focused analysis of 17 distinct wood formation models.
- It characterizes these models based on their described processes, external/internal drivers, and complexity levels.
Key Points:
- Identifies three key open questions: hormonal influence on tree rings, earlywood to latewood transition mechanisms, and the role of carbon as an active driver versus passive substrate.
- Highlights the diversity of approaches and the evolution of wood formation modeling over five decades.
Conclusions:
- Wood formation models are currently underutilized but hold significant potential for advancing studies on individual tree and regional carbon sequestration.
- Further development and application of these models are crucial for understanding terrestrial carbon dynamics.
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