Supported by the FruitCREWS COST Action, Dr. Sarah Verbeke, a postdoctoral researcher at Ghent University (Belgium), recently completed a Short-Term Scientific Mission (STSM) at the Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Seville (IRNAS-CSIC) in Spain. Her two-week research visit (10–24 May 2025) focused on advancing mechanistic modelling of olive fruit growth under drought conditions.
Hosted by Dr. Virginia Hernández Santana, the STSM aimed to refine a water status visualization tool based on a model simulating turgor dynamics and turgor-driven growth in olive trees. By integrating new data collected on-site and expanding the dataset to include multiple tree replicates under control and drought-stress treatments, Dr. Verbeke was able to significantly improve model performance and reliability.
In addition to model calibration and sensitivity analysis, she explored advanced experimental techniques used at IRNAS, including psychrometer installation, Cavicam stem sensors, and vulnerability curve assessments via optical scanning. These insights further enriched her modelling approach and broadened her technical expertise.
The outcomes of this STSM directly contribute to several FruitCREWS deliverables, particularly through demonstrating how vapor pressure deficit (VPD) can be used as a key driver for simulating olive growth under varying water conditions. The model’s findings offer promising applications for precision irrigation strategies in drought-prone regions.
The final model and visualization tool will be presented during the FruitCREWS Annual Meeting, with a scientific publication.