This book contains 32 articles from authors who participated
in a program (Schwerpunktprogramm) of the German National Science Foundation
(Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) named 'Physiology of trees'.
This program was initiated by Hubert Ziegler in 1985, when the interpretation
of results achieved in studies on forest decline phenomena became increasingly
difficult, because of a lack of data on the physiology of healthy trees. How
can injury be determined and properly quantified, when the undamaged state is
not sufficiently characterized? The program 'Physiology of trees' was aimed
to overcome at least part of this problem, and was therefore entirely devoted
to the physiology of healthy trees. For the first time it brought together plant
physiologists working on numerous areas of tree physiology from all over Germany.
The book summarizes in the frame of published literature the progress that has
been achieved during the 8 years duration of the program 'Physiology of trees'
in studies of individual groups and numerous cooperations. In addition, it contains
contributions of guests who presented views on particular topics at the annual
meetings of the special program.