Articles
MODELLING FRUIT DEVELOPMENT IN ‘HAYWARD’ KIWIFRUIT
Article number
707_4
Pages
41 – 47
Language
English
Abstract
The proportion of dry matter in kiwifruit at harvest is an important indicator of fruit quality, because it is related to the sweetness of the ripe fruit.
New Zealand growers are paid a premium for fruit that contain a high proportion of dry matter.
Understanding season-to-season variability in the proportion of dry matter in fruit at harvest is therefore very important.
Dry weight accumulation of kiwifruit during the growing season approximates a simple expolinear curve, but fresh weight follows a more complex sigmoid pattern.
The resulting complex patterns of change in the proportion of dry matter in the fruit can be modelled using some simple rules for water and carbon uptake.
If conversion rates between starch and sugar are added to the model, realistic starch and soluble solids curves can also be generated.
In this paper a simple model of kiwifruit fruit development is described, and the manner in which its parameters can be modified to take into account variable environmental conditions, particularly temperature, is explored.
New Zealand growers are paid a premium for fruit that contain a high proportion of dry matter.
Understanding season-to-season variability in the proportion of dry matter in fruit at harvest is therefore very important.
Dry weight accumulation of kiwifruit during the growing season approximates a simple expolinear curve, but fresh weight follows a more complex sigmoid pattern.
The resulting complex patterns of change in the proportion of dry matter in the fruit can be modelled using some simple rules for water and carbon uptake.
If conversion rates between starch and sugar are added to the model, realistic starch and soluble solids curves can also be generated.
In this paper a simple model of kiwifruit fruit development is described, and the manner in which its parameters can be modified to take into account variable environmental conditions, particularly temperature, is explored.
Authors
A.J. Hall, A.C. Richardson, W.P. Snelgar
Keywords
carbon, dry matter, fruit growth
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