title: Apple fruit diameter and length estimation by using the thermal and sunshine hours approach and its application to the digital orchard management information system.
abstract: In apple cultivation, simulation models may be used to monitor fruit size during the growth and development process to predict production levels and to optimize fruit quality. Here, Fuji apples cultivated in spindle-type systems were used as the model crop. Apple size was measured during the growing period at an interval of about 20 days after full bloom, with three weather stations being used to collect orchard temperature and solar radiation data at different sites. Furthermore, a 2-year dataset (2011 and 2012) of apple fruit size measurements were integrated according to the weather station deployment sites, in addition to the top two most important environment factors, thermal and sunshine hours, into the model. The apple fruit diameter and length were simulated using physiological development time (PDT), an indicator that combines important environment factors, such as temperature and photoperiod, as the driving variable. Compared to the model of calendar-based development time (CDT), an indicator counting the days that elapse after full bloom, we confirmed that the PDT model improved the estimation accuracy to within 0.2 cm for fruit diameter and 0.1 cm for fruit length in independent years using a similar data collection method in 2013. The PDT model was implemented to realize a web-based management information system for a digital orchard, and the digital system had been applied in Shandong Province, China since 2013. This system may be used to compute the dynamic curve of apple fruit size based on data obtained from a nearby weather station. This system may provide an important decision support for farmers using the website and short message service to optimize crop production and, hence, economic benefit.
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Research Center for Information Technology in Agriculture, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Science, Beijing, PR China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Research Center for Information Technology in Agriculture, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Science, Beijing, PR China.
authors.forename: Meixiang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Research Center for Information Technology in Agriculture, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Science, Beijing, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology/College of Life Science, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, PR China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology/College of Life Science, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, PR China.
authors.forename: Chunxia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Research Center for Information Technology in Agriculture, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Science, Beijing, PR China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Research Center for Information Technology in Agriculture, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Science, Beijing, PR China.
authors.forename: Wenyong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Research Center for Information Technology in Agriculture, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Science, Beijing, PR China.
authors.forename: Jianping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Research Center for Information Technology in Agriculture, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Science, Beijing, PR China.
authors.forename: Sha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Research Center for Information Technology in Agriculture, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Science, Beijing, PR China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology/College of Life Science, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiaodan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology/College of Life Science, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, PR China.
authors.forename: Yujing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology/College of Life Science, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, PR China.
authors.forename: Yan'an
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Research Center for Information Technology in Agriculture, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Science, Beijing, PR China.
authors.forename: Xinting
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D040421:Cell Phone; D005638:Fruit / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D020407:Internet; D027845:Malus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008331:Management Information Systems; D015233:Models, Statistical; D013472:Sunlight; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
references.citation: J Exp Bot. 2010 May;61(8):2101-15
references.pmid: 19995824
references.citation: PLoS One. 2014;9(3):e92532
references.pmid: 24663687
references.citation: Pest Manag Sci. 2010 Jun;66(6):587-95
references.pmid: 20127866