Time of irrigation affects vine water relations and the daily patterns of leaf gas exchanges and vascular flows to kiwifruit ( Actinidia deliciosa Chev.)

•In kiwifruit, changes in the timing of irrigation can quickly affect the vine water relations, leaf gas exchanges and fruit vascular flows.•Afternoon irrigation tends to increase stem, branch and leaf water potentials as well as leaf gas exchanges in the following hours.•Afternoon irrigation induces higher stem-to-fruit water potential gradient and higher fruit xylem inflows in the following hours.•Providing water at times when environmental conditions are more stressing, can improve the vine physiological performances.•The timing of irrigation may represent a promising management tool in future water-saving irrigation schemes.