Author Correction: The GenTree Dendroecological Collection, tree-ring and wood density data from seven tree species across Europe.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

The GenTree Dendroecological Collection, tree-ring and wood density data from seven tree species across Europe.

The dataset presented here was collected by the GenTree project (EU-Horizon 2020), which aims to improve the use of forest genetic resources across Europe by better understanding how trees adapt to their local environment. This dataset of individual tree-core characteristics including ring-width series and whole-core wood density was collected for seven ecologically and economically important European tree species: silver birch (Betula pendula), European beech (Fagus sylvatica), Norway spruce (Picea abies), European black poplar (Populus nigra), maritime pine (Pinus pinaster), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), and sessile oak (Quercus petraea). Tree-ring width measurements were obtained from 3600 trees in 142 populations and whole-core wood density was measured for 3098 trees in 125 populations. This dataset covers most of the geographical and climatic range occupied by the selected species. The potential use of it will be highly valuable for assessing ecological and evolutionary responses to environmental conditions as well as for model development and parameterization, to predict adaptability under climate change scenarios.

Ontogenetic trends in the morphological features of main stem annual shoots of Pinus pinaster (Pinaceae).

Phase change refers to the transition between juvenile and adult vegetative phases. The study of trees throughout their entire life span requires retrospective analyses and validates the use of a chronosequence by sequencing observations at different and successive stages. The main axis growth pattern of 62 maritime pines (Pinus pinaster) selected in a chronosequence of three stands consisting of 8-, 22-, and 48-yr-old trees was analyzed retrospectively. Comparison of measured features (length, number of axillary products, reproductive organs) at common ages from the three stands supported the validity of using these data to form a continuous chronosequence. Endogenous trends in tree development are revealed free from variability due to annual growth conditions. Two main phases of development corresponding respectively to the juvenile vegetative and adult reproductive stages were identified, and the transition between both occurred in 9-yr-old trees. The relevance of these two phases and more generally the notion of phase changes are discussed in light of observed trends in the values of studied growth and branching parameters that may either show gradual variations (such as length of annual shoot) or a distinctive expression in one or the other phase (such as presence of female cones).