... 763–772© INRA, EDP Sciences, 2004DOI: 10.1051/forest:2003071Original articleChemical composition of the periderm in relation to in situ water absorption rates of oak, beech and spruce fine rootsChristoph ... from the terminal root tip in all species. At 500 mmdistance from the tip, periderm thickness had increased to 50 µm in beech and spruce, and to 70 µm in oak. In beech and oak rootlets, the periderm ... needed to show whether oak, beech and spruce indeed differ with respect to drought sensitivity of fine rootgrowth and mortality. Finally, it is necessary to increase the spatial resolution of water...