A Functional-Structural Kiwifruit Vine Model

Kiwifruit is an important horticultural crop that requires intensive management to control vegetative-reproductive balance. To reduce the costs of developing new training and pruning strategies, a 3-D computer model is being constructed that could be used to perform virtual experiments. The model incorporates the vine´s architecture, canopy light distribution and carbon dynamics, including carbon acquisition, transport, allocation, and reserve mobilisation. It is capable of simulating the effects of genotype, environment, and horticultural manipulation on shoot growth. A simulation of shoot growth, from girdled parent canes, with different levels of available reserves, illustrates the model. Before applying the model to the development of new management strategies, it must be calibrated and evaluated.