The diversity of radial variations of wood properties in European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) reveals the plastic nature of juvenile wood

Key message 

Radial variations in wood quality result from the changes in wood properties with tree age. Here, we show that, at least in beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), these patterns of variations are diverse, and reflect a plastic adaptation to changes in the mechanical needs of the trees during their life.

Keywords
Variability; Radial variation; Core wood; Ontogenetic juvenility; Adaptive juvenility

Publication 
Alméras, T., Jullien, D., Liu, S. et al. The diversity of radial variations of wood properties in European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) reveals the plastic nature of juvenile wood. Annals of Forest Science 82, 15 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13595-025-01284-9

Data availability
The datasets generated and analysed during the present study are accessible under the reference Alméras et al (2024) at : https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14606666.

Handling editor 
Erwin Dreyer