A study reveals that deciduous trees' roots remain active in winter

“Our results demonstrate that the above-ground and below-ground parts of a tree follow separate calendars, allowing for underground growth to be prioritized in winter and aerial growth at the beginning of spring,” says CREAF researcher Paolo Zuccarini, a co-author of the study. This divergence could offer a strategic advantage: in winter, while the rest of the tree is dormant, its roots store reserves of carbohydrates and nitrogen-rich substances, such as proteins and amino acids. Thus, when the tree ‘reawakens’, it will have enough nourishment for leaves to bud and photosynthesis to resume, which is essential for trunk and branch growth. “It’s kind of like having building blocks ready to use in the spring, when the priority is to produce leaves so that photosynthesis can start again,” explains Zuccarini. This surprising research was conducted with four tree species — European beech (Fagus sylvatica), silver birch (Betula pendula), pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) and common aspen (Pop ... Read full article.