Add to ORKGTrials were carried out in Southern Italy on apricot plants (cv. Tirynthos) trained to transverse Y and kiwifruit vines (cv. Hayward) trained to pergola. Leaf area, light availability and gas exchange measurements were performed during different times of the growing season on both orchards. In kiwifruit vines at maximum LAI (3.7), reached in July, the shaded leaves were 60% of the total. During the annual cycle, exposed leaves showed a photosynthetic rate 50 times higher than shaded ones, while transpiration rate was only twice higher. Average WUE value in exposed leaves was 20 times higher than in shaded leaves. Apricot trees reached maximum LAI (4.7) in July with 44% of the leaves exposed (> 40% of incident sunlight), 20% of intermediate ...