Abstract
The present study addresses the prediction of apple tree development, taking into account both the number and within-tree position of tree components. The architectural development of two trees per scion cultivar, 'Fuji' and 'Braeburn', was studied by describing all shoots over 6 years. Flowering and fruiting were observed over 3 years. The description included different scales [entire trees, axes, growth units (GUs) and metamers], and the analysis compared all axes of the trees as a function of their branching order and age. Three main aspects of vegetative development were investigated: the quantity of primary growth; the number and nature of developing axillary shoots; and meristem death. Results confirm the existence of within-tree morphological gradients, and show that the decrease in growth was comparable in magnitude for all axes and GUs, irrespective of their position. This decrease results from a reduction in the number of metamers per GU, which was modelled by an exponential function. The decrease in growth involved changes in the number and nature of the axillary shoots, which could be described by simple functions. The probability of spur death was constant over the years but differed according to cultivar and type of bearing shoot. The within-tree probability of flowering and fruiting was predictable for 'Braeburn' because axes, regardless of their position and type, had a high probability of flowering and a low probability of fruit set which led to a regular bearing habit. In contrast, 'Fuji' had an alternating bearing behaviour that was more complex to predict. This appeared to result from a synchronized increase in the probability that all GUs at tree scale are floral, combined with a high probability of fruit set. The consequences of these results for both yield prediction and architectural simulations are discussed.
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Claims 10
Claim · model-written summary
Within-tree morphological gradients were confirmed.
- Taxon
- apple tree
Malus domesticat0 - Outcome
- within-tree morphological gradientse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Results confirm the existence of within-tree morphological gradients”
t0“apple tree”
Claim · model-written summary
Growth decreased comparably across axes and growth units regardless of position.
- Taxon
- apple treeMalus domesticat0
- Organ / stage
- axes and GUse0
- Outcome
- growthe0
- Direction
- decreasee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the decrease in growth was comparable in magnitude for all axes and GUs, irrespective of their position.”
t0“apple tree”
Claim · model-written summary
The growth decrease resulted from fewer metamers per growth unit, modeled exponentially.
- Taxon
- apple treeMalus domesticat0
- Organ / stage
- metamers per GUe0
- Outcome
- number of metamers per GUe0
- Direction
- reductione0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“This decrease results from a reduction in the number of metamers per GU, which was modelled by an exponential function.”
t0“apple tree”
Claim · model-written summary
Declining growth involved changes in axillary shoot number and nature.
- Taxon
- apple treeMalus domesticat0
- Organ / stage
- axillary shootse0
- Outcome
- number and nature of the axillary shootse0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The decrease in growth involved changes in the number and nature of the axillary shoots, which could be described by simple functions.”
t0“apple tree”
Claim · model-written summary
Spur death probability was constant across years.
- Taxon
- apple treeMalus domesticat0
- Organ / stage
- spure0
- Outcome
- probability of spur deathe0
- Direction
- constante0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The probability of spur death was constant over the years but differed according to cultivar and type of bearing shoot.”
t0“apple tree”
Claim · model-written summary
Spur death probability differed by cultivar and bearing shoot type.
- Taxon
- apple treeMalus domesticat0
- Organ / stage
- bearing shoote0
- Outcome
- probability of spur deathe0
- Direction
- differede0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The probability of spur death was constant over the years but differed according to cultivar and type of bearing shoot.”
t0“apple tree”
Claim · model-written summary
Braeburn flowering and fruiting probabilities were predictable within trees.
- Taxon
- apple treeMalus domesticat0
- Material
- Braeburne0
- Outcome
- probability of flowering and fruitinge0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The within-tree probability of flowering and fruiting was predictable for 'Braeburn'”
t0“apple tree”
Claim · model-written summary
Fuji had alternating bearing behavior that was harder to predict.
- Taxon
- apple treeMalus domesticat0
- Material
- Fujie0
- Outcome
- alternating bearing behavioure0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“'Fuji' had an alternating bearing behaviour that was more complex to predict.”
t0“apple tree”
Claim · model-written summary
Fuji alternation appeared linked to synchronized increase in floral growth units.
- Taxon
- apple treeMalus domesticat0
- Material
- Fujit1
- Organ / stage
- GUse0
- Outcome
- probability that all GUs at tree scale are florale0
- Direction
- increasee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“This appeared to result from a synchronized increase in the probability that all GUs at tree scale are floral, combined with a high probability of fruit set.”
t0“apple tree”
t1“'Fuji' had an alternating bearing behaviour”
Claim · model-written summary
Fuji alternation appeared linked to high fruit-set probability.
- Taxon
- apple treeMalus domesticat0
- Material
- Fujit1
- Organ / stage
- fruite0
- Outcome
- probability of fruit sete0
- Direction
- highe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“This appeared to result from a synchronized increase in the probability that all GUs at tree scale are floral, combined with a high probability of fruit set.”
t0“apple tree”
t1“'Fuji' had an alternating bearing behaviour”