Fig. 1.

Schematic illustrating shoot organization in Actinidia. In kiwifruit, growth and flowering occur in a 2-year cycle, with the current season's shoots originating from axillary meristems on the previous season's growth (Snowball, 1997b). In the first year, axillary meristems on the parent shoot (cane) initiate a set number of ‘preformed’ phytomers prior to winter dormancy. During the second season, these preformed phytomers expand, and the shoot apical meristem (SAM) initiates additional ‘neoformed’ phytomers that may or may not expand within the current season.