Abstract
To predict mulberry (Morus alba L. ‘Shin-ichinose’) vegetative growth, I constructed shoot elongation and leaf appearance models for mulberry grown in field conditions. The shoot elongation rate and leaf appearance rate were decided by the product of growth activity (GA) and potential rates (PR) realized at the maximum GA under a given environmental condition. GA is dimensionless and ranges from 0 to 1. GA and PR of shoot elongation rate were determined by temperature, photoperiod and shoot length, and temperature and shoot length, respectively. GA and PR of leaf appearance rate were determined by photoperiod, and temperature, respectively. Model parameters were estimated by an iterative method using five-year mulberry growth data. The values calculated by both models were similar to the measured values and represented annual fluctuation well. These models also showed good estimation of data, which were not used for determining parameters. Therefore, it seems that these models well represent mulberry vegetative growth response to temperature and photoperiod, and are practical.
