Predicting branching in young apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh.)

A dynamic model was developed describing the relationship between the climate factors and branching in young apple trees thus giving the possibility to simulate ideal climate conditions for various types of branching. The model has three parts, the first describes how the leaf unfolding rate is dependent on the daily temperature, the second how irradiance influences outgrowth of branches while the third predicts at which node on the main shoot a branch develops. The study indicates that it might be possible to induce branching with exposure to high light intensities in cultivars known to have problems with side shoot formation.