Modeling of Shoot Elongation and Leaf Appearance in Potted Mulberry

• Main Author: Kuniaki Fukui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2000-01-01
• Series: Plant Production Science
• Subjects: Leaf appearance; Model; Mulberry tree; Shoot length; Temperature.
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1626/pps.3.410

To predict mulberry growth, modeling of shoot elongation and leaf appearance of potted mulberries was attempted. Potted mulberries were grown in temperature-controlled phytotrons. Changes in the rates of mulberry shoot elongation and leaf appearance, and the relationship between the rates and temperature were investigated. The rate of shoot elongation increased until the shoot length reached about 100cm, and became stable thereafter. The rates of both shoot elongation and leaf appearance increased with the increase in temperature from 15°C to 27°C, but not at higher temperatures. However, the rate of leaf appearance increased with the rise in temperature up to 31°C. On the basis of these results, the shoot elongation and leaf appearance of mulberry in phytotron were simulated in non -linear regression models. The relationship between the rate of shoot elongation and temperature, and the rate of leaf appearance and temperature in the model fitted to measured values very well, and that between the rate of shoot elongation and shoot length in the models tended to be in accordance with the measured values. Shoot length and leaf number predicted by the model were in concurrence with the measured values.