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Apples have very high record yields (about 140 tons/ha sustained) that demand large amounts of carbon to be produced and partitioned into both fruit and vegetative structures. Even though large quantities of dry matter can be produced, profitability depends on the management of the carbon production and partitioning to produce the optimal balance of yield and fruit quality. The productivity is mostly related to moderate photosynthesis rates per leaf area, long leaf area duration, high seasonal radiation interception, relatively low respiration, and very high harvest index. Due to the perennial nature and large size, few good estimates of seasonal carbon balance are available. Models have been developed, but are not wellvalidated yet, but general seasonal trends are apparent. Daily net CO2 exchange begins negative with early spring growth, reaches zero near bloom, peaks about 6 to 10 weeks after bloom, then gradually declines until leaf fall. The demand of the fruit appears to increase exponentially during cell division, then levels off to a relatively constant demand until harvest. Experiments and modeling suggests that if fruit development is limited by carbon availability, the probability increases in heavily cropping trees, and will occur at about 2 to 4 weeks after bloom and before harvest. Best carbon balance appears to occur in relatively cool temperatures and in very long seasons.
Abstract
Excision of field shoots of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) and grape (Vitis labruscana Bailey and V. vinifera L.) for subsequent measurements of photosynthesis and transpiration in the laboratory gave variable and sometimes substantial errors, dependent on excision method, species studied and time of season. Water stress due to low water potentials caused obvious problems, but excessive turgor in shoots excised under water also caused significant errors. The method of shoot excision affected the water potential of excised shoots, especially if held for more than 6 hr.
Abstract
The relationship between stomatal conductance and leaf water potential in field-grown apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh.) was determined throughout one growing season. Between May and September the leaf water potential required to close stomates decreased (became more negative) by about 25 bars, indicating decreasing sensitivity of the stomates to leaf water stress. A good linear correlation was found between stomatal conductance and net photosynthesis in trees grown under a wide range of water stress conditions. In September net photosynthesis of excised leaves of field trees was not reduced to zero until leaf water potentials reached ā50 to ā60 bars. The results emphasize the importance of pre-conditioning and time of season in plant water relations studies.
Abstract
Fisheye (hemispherical) photographs were taken in apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) tree canopies of varying types and analyzed for the percentage sky visible in the photograph. Canopy structure was evaluated with photographs along vertical transects, and seasonal development of different canopy forms was followed. Good correlations of the % sky to total and diffuse light, sunfleck penetration, red/far-red ratios, flowering and fruit coloration were found. Results were used to help define the proper balance between light penetration and interception by apple tree canopies, which was estimated as about 20% sky at the bottom of a canopy for āMcIntoshā.
Fruits of different species grow in different patterns (such as the ādouble sigmoidā of stone fruits and grapes or the apparent single sigmoid of apples), and each has periods of cell division followed by periods of only cell expansion. It should not be expected that one mathematical growth description would hold for all species, or even at all times of the season for one species. Perhaps hybrid growth models need to be developed, although specific questions asked about fruit growth may be satisfactorily answered with models of only parts of the fruit growth period of interest.
Abstract
Photosynthetic rates of mature leaves of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) from field shoots were measured under high, low, and alternating light conditions (0.5 seconds at each level) in the laboratory. Photosynthetic rates in alternating light were consistently 85% of those recorded under continuous high light. Photosynthetic efficiency was substantially increased under alternating light conditions.
The study evaluated the relationship of spur vs. extension shoot leaf area and light interception to apple (Malus {XtimesX} domesticaBorkh.) orchard productivity. Fifteen-year-old `Marshall McIntosh'/M.9 trees had significantly greater leaf area and percentage of light interception at 3-5 and 10-12 weeks after full bloom (AFB) than did 4-year-old `Jonagold'/Mark trees. Despite significant increases in leaf area and light interception with canopy development, linear relationships between total, spur, and extension shoot canopy leaf area index (LAI) and 1) light interception and 2) fruit yield were similar at both times. Mean total and spur canopy LAI and light interception were significantly and positively correlated with fruit yield; however, extension shoot LAI and light interception were poorly correlated with yield. In another study total, spur and extension shoot canopy light interception varied widely in five apple production systems: 15-year-old central leader `Redchief Delicious' MM.111, 15-year-old central leader `Redchief Delicious' MM.111/M.9, 16-year-old slender spindle `Marshall McIntosh' M.9, 14-year-old `Jerseymac' M.9 on 4-wire trellis, and 17-year-old slender spindle `MacSpur' M.9. Yields in these orchards were curvilinearly related to total and extension shoot canopy light interception and decreased when total light interception exceeded 60% and extension shoot interception exceeded 25%. Fruit yields were linearly and highly correlated (r 2 = 0.78) with spur light interception. The findings support the hypothesis that fruit yields of healthy apple orchards are better correlated with LAI and light interception by spurs than by extension shoots. The results emphasize the importance of open, well-illuminated, spur-rich tree canopies for high productivity.
Summer pruning increases canopy light penetration and re-exposes spur leaves of the interior canopy of apple trees (Malus Ćdomestica Borkh.). However, we hypothesized that leaf photosynthetic ability is determined by the pre-pruning light environment, and the re-exposure intensity after summer pruning is incapable of restoring the photosynthesis efficiency of shaded leaves. To test this hypothesis, a commercial-type thinning-cuts pruning was applied to mature central leader `Empire'/M.26 apple trees. Changes in light availability, leaf net photosynthesis (Pn), photosystem II efficiency, and specific leaf weight (SLW) were recorded periodically before and after pruning. Leaf photosynthesis declined slightly through the growing season and was well correlated with pre-pruning light availability until late September. Although Pn decreased more substantially late in the season on exterior leaves than on interior leaves, Pn of leaves in the inner and middle canopies was lower than exterior leaves until late October. Maximum efficiency of photosystem II of dark-adapted leaves, measured by chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm), was not related to prior exposure or re-exposure. Specific leaf weight was well correlated with pre-pruning light availability and with leaf Pn in August but not in October. Results suggested that commercial summer pruning significantly increases light environments in the inner and middle canopies. However, light availability at interior and middle canopy sites was still much lower than exterior canopy and, consequently, leaf photosynthetic ability did not increase after summer pruning.
Several models of apple tree carbon balance have been developed, including a simplified model by our lab. Tree photosynthesis and total dry matter production is the best characterized except for root growth and root respiration. Once dry matter is produced and partitioned to the different organs (another key problem for modeling), the effects of carbon availability to the fruits on their growth and abscission needs to be modeled. Our approach is based on an observed relationship between increased abscission with decreased fruit growth rate of populations of fruit. From several empirical studies of fruit growth and abscission during chemical thinning or imposed stress early in the season, a relationship was found between % abscission and classes of fruit growth rates. It appears to be best if the fruit growth rate is expressed as a percent of the growth rate of the fastest growing group of fruits in each study. Thus in the model the fruit growth allowed by the available carbon each day is compared to a pre-determined maximum growth rate for the cultivar. The percent-of-maximum growth rate then determines how much abscission will occur. Then the growth rate of the remaining fruit is calculated. Additional parameters of the model allowed for a multiple-day buffer of carbon availability, an imposed fruit number reduction (i.e. equivalent to hand thinning), and temperature effects. Although there are more improvements planned, the initial tests have been promising with the simulations showing realistic patterns of fruit abscission and fruit growth.