AUTHOR=Egipto Ricardo Jorge Lopes , Aquino Arturo , Andújar José Manuel 

TITLE=Predicting the canopy conductance to water vapor of grapevines using a biophysical model in a hot and arid climate

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1334215

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2024.1334215

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>Canopy conductance is a crucial factor in modelling plant transpiration and is highly responsive to water stress. The objective of this study is to develop a straightforward method for estimating canopy conductance (g<sub>c</sub>) in grapevines. To predict g<sub>c</sub>, this study combines stomatal conductance to water vapor (g<sub>sw</sub>) measurements from grapevine leaves, scaled to represent the canopy size by the leaf area index (LAI), with atmospheric variables, such as net solar radiation (R<sub>n</sub>) and air vapor pressure deficit (VPD). The developed model was then validated by comparing its predictions with g<sub>c</sub> values calculated using the inverse of the Penman Monteith equation. The proposed model demonstrates its effectiveness in estimating the g<sub>c</sub>, with the highest root-mean-squared-error (RMSE=1.45x10<sup>−4</sup><italic>m.s<sup>−1</sup></italic>) being lower than the minimum g<sub>c</sub> measured in the field (g<sub>c obs</sub>=0.0005 <italic>m.s<sup>−1</sup></italic>). The results of this study reveal the significant influence of both VPD and g<sub>sw</sub> on grapevine canopy conductance.</p>