Maturation and related aspects in clonal forestry-Part I: concepts, regulation and consequences of phase change

Progression from the juvenile to mature phase in woody plants is accompanied by changes in characteristics as diverse as adventitious rooting capacity, leaf morphology, canopy architecture, wood anatomy and reproductive development. Many concepts of phase change, the intensity and duration of changes that occur during the phase transition, and the practical consequences of plant maturation for growth and development, are poorly understood. Little is known about the physiological and environmental control of maturation in woody plants compared with herbaceous plants, and reliable markers of phase state have only been developed for a few species, mainly conifers. Understanding the mechanisms and forms of phase change is a prerequisite for achieving maturation or rejuvenation for applications such as seed production or clonal propagation. This review describes concepts, terminology and consequences of phase change, combining theoretical and practical aspects of tree maturation that relate to clonal forestry.