The Functional Anatomy of Tree Xylem: From Cell Structure to Ecological Roles
A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Ecophysiology and Biology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025
Special Issue Editor
Interests: wood biology; cambial events; wood formation; wood anatomy and function; wood ecology; wood hydraulic conductivity; wood structure modification; reaction wood; wood senescence; "wood" in monocotyledonous trees
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The secondary xylem (wood) formation is a complex process involving cambial cell divisions, enlargement of cambial cell derivatives, secondary cell wall deposition, and lignification. The autophagy of the cytoplasmic contents of the xylem cells marks the end of this process. In trees, wood formation results from the cross-talk between phytohormones and environmental signals.
The history of environmental events is encoded in the structure of secondary xylem, which is relatively simple in conifers and more complex in dicotyledonous trees. Analysis of the functional anatomical traits of secondary xylem provides insights into the environmental conditions during tree growth and the stresses experienced. The existing match between structure–function relationships and environmental requirements thus makes the secondary xylem of trees, as long-lived organisms, a key tissue in ecological research, especially in the era of climate change, because in addition to its leading physiological roles, i.e., water transport and mechanical support, it also serves as a carbon store. Therefore, we aim to invite contributions that use wood anatomy to study forest dynamics under climate change, fire history, or insect outbreaks. We assume key information on the phenotypic plasticity of trees functioning in different environmental conditions will be provided based on research on functional anatomical traits of secondary xylem.
Prof. Dr. Mirela Tulik
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- autophagy
- cell wall
- conductive elements
- dendroecology
- heartwood
- hormonal and environmental regulation
- sapwood
- xylem sap
- xylem traits
- trees' xylogenesis
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