Trade-off between height growth and spring flushing in common beech (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fagus sylvatica</Emphasis> L.)

• Introduction   

The annual development cycle of boreal and temperate trees results from an evolutionary trade-off between two opposing forces. These are namely, the adjustment of leaf phenology to the timing of frost occurrence at the beginning and/or the end of the growth season countered by an effective adjustment to the duration of the growth season to maximise photosynthesis and biomass production during the growing season.