ISHS Acta Horticulturae 313: III International Symposium on Computer Modelling in Fruit Research and Orchard Management
MODELLING THE SEASONAL CARBON ECONOMY OF DECIDUOUS TREE CROPS |
| Authors: | T.M. DeJong, Y.L. Grossman |
| Keywords: | carbohydrate partitioning, source, sink, fruit growth, peach |
| Abstract:
In this paper, we outline an approach to modelling the carbon economy of tree crops based on the concept that plants grow as collections of semi-autonomous, but interacting organs. The plant genotype, triggered by internal and environmental signals, determines current organ specific growth potentials. Environmental conditions specify the conditional growth capacity and maintenance requirements for each organ. Finally, resource availability determines realised organ growth. A model for one organ type, individual fruit growth, has been developed for peaches. Within the framework of the larger model, this fruit growth model has been used to study factors that limit fruit size and crop yield, and the effect of management practices such as thinning on fruit growth and yield. Comparing the relative growth rate of fruit on normally cropped trees to the potential relative growth rate indicated that fruit growth was source-limited during two periods of growth. The model can be used in similar fashion to evaluate the timing of source limitations on vegetative growth. | |
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