Physiology of Woody Plants, Fourth Edition has been fully revised and updated to include the significant progress that has been made in multiple fields of tree physiology, including woody plant responses to globally changing environments, the role of woody plants in biosphere-atmosphere interactions, and generalized trait-function relationships, including the multiple specialized and insightful contributions on individual facets of tree functioning and rich genetic information that has become available since the publication of the third edition. This reference is appropriate for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as practitioners and researchers seeking to learn about different aspects of tree functioning.

This fourth edition includes both the classical concepts and recent developments in the field of tree physiology, and addresses a broad audience interested in gaining a basic understanding of woody plant functioning, as well as those wanting to refresh their knowledge of developments at the forefront of tree physiology. The book offers novel insight into the functioning of multiple physiological processes in woody plants, providing a basic interdisciplinary understanding of the controls of climatic and biotic factors responsible for tree growth in current and future climates.

Key Features

• Provides an interdisciplinary overview of woody plant functioning under multiple interacting environmental pressures, and allows for drawing conclusions on woody plant performance in future climates
• Synthesizes information of woody plant structure, physiological potentials, growth, and environmental tolerance scattered through literature
• Covers key physiological processes responsible for woody plant growth at various levels of depth
• Serves as a textbook for students and a reference resource for professionals ranging from practitioners to scientists
• Presents a unique combination of classical tree physiology and current hot topics in the field
• Highlights paths where contemporary “common knowledge" could develop into new frontier research