Heartwood in Quercus robur: formation, quality, drought response and functional significance
PhD defence by Andrea Ponzecchi
Assessment Committee
- Professor Erik Dahl Kjær, IGN, University of Copenhagen (Chairperson)
- Manager, Vibrational Spectroscopy Core Facility András Gorzsás, Umeå University
- Professor Alan Crivellaro, University of Turin
Supervisors
- Professor Lisbeth Garbrecht Thygesen
- Maria Fredriksson
- Albin Lobo
- Associate Professor Emil Engelund Thybring
Department
Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management
Place
The defence is conducted as a hybrid defence.
To attend the defence in person:
Building: Back House, Room: von Langen,
Rolighedsvej 23, 1958 Frederiksberg
To attend the defence online:
Please follow the link to attend the defence online: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/37570944997053?p=ruSTp3IddNJ0TRD9Wj
MeetingID, if relevant: 375 709 449 970 53
Password, if relevant: cj9AM2dL
Email address to gain access to the thesis: apo@ign.ku.dk.
You will either receive a copy of the thesis or be informed where you can read a physical copy.
Recipients of copies of the thesis are not allowed to share or distribute it due to copyright compliance.
Short description of the thesis
This PhD thesis investigates how heartwood formation in young pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) relates to wood quality, durability and tree performance. Heartwood is central to the long-term value of oak, yet increasing its proportion through selection is only useful if it does not compromise other important traits. The thesis combines chemical analysis, decay testing, drought-response assessment, imaging methods and water-relation studies to examine whether higher heartwood content is associated with changes in extractive chemistry, biological resistance or physiological performance. Overall, the work shows that heartwood quantity should not be considered in isolation, but as part of a broader selection framework linking wood formation, material function and future forest resilience.