摘要：Management of deciduous perennial fruit crops requires a good understanding of the many physiological and horticultural factors that influence tree growth and fruit production. Crucial decisions that must be made include the choice of tree density, tree variety, pruning and training techniques. These choices, some of which are made before the orchard is planted, have implications for grower returns over the life of the orchard because they influence tree growth and fruit quantity and quality. A dynamic model of an apple tree is developed in this study, with the ultimate goal of stimulating apple orchard management decisions in a multi-period setting. The model takes into account the vegetative and reproductive physiology of apple trees, factors affecting apple quality and quantity, and the interrelationships between these factors. The model is designed to allow flexibility in the incorporation of alternative apple cultivars and pruning/training systems. The implementation and importance of these features are discussed in the paper.
