Résumé
The vegetative and reproductive growth of fruit trees depends on assimilate production which iscontrolled by tree canopy structure and leaf functions, both modulated by their interactions with theenvironment (Lakso 1994). Understanding more precisely how these factors influence the variation ofgrowth and yield is a major issue for fruit growers. Functional-structural plant models (FSPMs) offerpromising perspectives to understand these complex interactions at different spatial and temporalscales (Godin and Sinoquet 2005). In this context, the aim of the present study was to unravel in applethe relative contribution of foliage display and leaf functions (leaf stomatal and photosyntheticproperties) on light interception, transpiration and photosynthetic capacities of branching systems [introduction]