Variation of cork porosity along the stem in harvested cork oak (Quercus suber L.) trees

Cork porosity, due to lenticular channels, varied along the stem of Quercus suber L. Lenticular channels’ area, rather than their number, decreased upwards stem. Area decrease was observed regardless tree size and its intrinsic porosity. The cork is radially crossed by defining cork’s natural It has been suggested that porosity decreases from base upwards, but studies on such variation have not yet presented. Three main research questions were addressed: (i) how large stem; (ii) does relate with traits, namely number channels (iii) much vary height between trees. We set up a study at level quantify samples fixed heights. Our statistical modelling approach based linear mixed-effects models, given nested structure data. In model fitting, described as function height, while random effects explained source variability introduced different (as diameter breast Dbh) CPbh). area consistently proportion in tissue (i.e. coefficient) about 1.4% per metre stem, findings highlight traits greatly among trees, more within-tree, which may be an important clue predict variations properties, for decision-making oak management.