ABSTRACT
Biomass growth is the mass of new tissue synthesized over whole tree in a given time step. Biomass growth is a function of the photosynthates remaining after autotrophic respiration, driving the maintenance of existing tissues and the growth of new tissues: ΔW = P – (Rm + Rg), where ΔW is the biomass growth, P is the gross amount of carbon available for maintenance and growth in the whole tree or in a given organ (allocated to organ), Rm is the maintenance and Rg the growth respiration. The impacts of climate change on the biomass growth are evident, but the mechanisms are complex as related to the biochemical/physiological processes behind the growth. Biomass growth is further manifested in the growth of dimensions such as height and diameter, the former representing the primary, and the latter secondary growth.
