Annals of Botany 2008 101(8):NP; doi:10.1093/aob/mcn066
© The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org
ContentSnapshots
Plant growth modelling and applications (Viewpoint)
Modelling plant
growth allows the testing of hypotheses and simulation of experiments
that could otherwise take years in field conditions.
Fourcaud et al. (pp. 1053–1063) propose that plant architecture and sink activity should be
pushed to the centre of plant growth models.
Models for forest ecosystem management: a European perspective (Review)
Growth models are
the most innovative planning tools available. They integrate
system knowledge and scale it to levels relevant for management.
Pretzsch et al. (pp. 1065–1087) identify five different
paradigms, assess models suitable for goal setting or decision
support, and develop guidelines for practical operation.
Modelling carbohydrate allocation to defence-related metabolites
Variation in the
concentrations of defence-related metabolites depends on internal
source and sink strengths for carbon and nitrogen.
Gayler et al. (pp. 1089–1098) use the plant growth model PLATHO to simulate the dynamics of
carbohydrate allocation to secondary compounds and present model
equations and simulation results for juvenile apple, beech and
spruce.
Sink functions of wheat organs derived from GREENLAB model
The functional–structural
plant model GREENLAB is calibrated for wheat by
Kang et al. (pp. 1099–1108).
They fit model outputs to measured mass of roots, leaf parts,
internodes and ears of tillers and main stems at four sampling
stages. The resulting parameters give sink functions of the
various organs.
Combined rule-based model of morphogenesis, shading and hormone signal transduction
Using an interactive
modelling platform,
Buck-Sorlin et al. (pp. 1109–1123) integrate different models combining gibberellic acid signal
transduction, phytochrome-based shade detection and object avoidance
in barley at different hierarchical scales. The outcome shows
the suitability of this new formalism for multi-scaled functional–structural
plant modelling.
AmapSim: a structural plant architecture simulator designed to host external functional models
This model and related
software include botanical knowledge to simulate realistic plant
shapes. A specific software open interface designed by
Barczi et al. (pp. 1125–1138) allows the growth engine to be optionally driven by functional
computing that is plugged into it.
A 3-D virtual model estimates light capture in sunflower
Light capture at
organ, plant and plot levels is estimated by characterizing
the light environment and using 3-D virtual plants built from
plant architectural characteristics
(Rey et al., pp. 1139–1151).
Blades and the capitulum are shown as major contributors to
light interception while contributions of petioles, stem or
by heliotropism are negligible.
Light-foraging efficiency of low-density cotton
How plants forage
for light is addressed by
Dauzat et al. (pp. 1153–1166) using 3-D virtual plants reconstructed from field experiments
planted at 1, 2 or 4 plants m
–2. These plants optimize
light capture through photomorphogenetic responses but produce
leaf area in proportion to intercepted light in a manner similar
for all densities.
Modelling grapevine canopy structure
Based on simple
field measurements,
Louarn et al. (pp. 1167–1184) describe
and validate a statistical model for reconstructing 3-D virtual
canopies for various genotypes and training systems. They highlight
how such a statistical approach can provide more reliable outputs
at the stand level than exhaustive architectural records of
a limited number of plants.
Validation of GREENLAB model for field-grown maize at different densities
Parameter values
describing variation of organ sink function in GREENLAB are
shown by
Ma et al. (pp. 1185–1194) to vary little between
years and at different planting densities. This strengthens
the hypothesis that one set of equations can govern dynamic
organ growth in the GREENLAB model.
Modelling phenotypic plasticity using a structure–function model
The structure–function
model GREENLAB allows resource-dependent plasticity of plant
architecture to be simulated. Using tomato, a crop exhibiting
marked morphogenetic responses to plant spacing,
Dong et al. (pp. 1195–1206) examine strengths and weaknesses of the current version of GREENLAB
in accounting for the plasticity of response to spacing.
Simulation of tree growth and development at different densities
A functional model
of light competition is proposed by
Cournède et al. (pp. 1207–1219) based on an empirical model of foliage spatial repartition and
on the Beer–Lambert law of light extinction. The model
shows that plant density strongly influences tree architectural
development through interactions with source–sink balance
during growth.
Modelling morphological plasticity in trees
Three-dimensional
modelling is used by
Vincent and Harja (pp. 1221–1231) to assess effects of morphological plasticity on tree performance.
Simulations conducted in various competitive environments (contrasting
planting density, stand composition, site fertility) all show
significant competitive advantage of crown-shape plasticity
in light-demanding species.
Modelling of alternating patterns
Mathieu et al. (pp. 1233–1242) formalize interactions between architecture and functioning
using the GREENLAB mathematical model that permits theoretical
studies of plant growth as well as simulations of alternating
patterns, such as rhythms in fruiting or branch production.
Emergent properties of the model are shown to simulate observed
patterns faithfully.
Simulation of QTL detection for functional–structural model parameters
Letort et al. (pp. 1243–1254) introduce genetics into the GREENLAB functional–structural
growth model. This gives access to fundamental traits for quantitative
trait loci (QTL) detection. Computation of a genetic algorithm
holds promise for detecting the allelic combination optimizing
maize yield. The potential of GREENLAB to represent environment/genotype
interactions is outlined.
Modelling cell–cell interactions during plant morphogenesis
During the development
of multicellular organisms, cells interact with each other using
a range of biological and physical mechanisms.
Dupuy et al. (pp. 1255–1265) describe a new generic model of plant cellular morphogenesis
that expresses interactions explicitly amongst cellular entities.
Numerical analysis of roots and tree overturning
A 2-D finite element
analysis by
Fourcaud et al. (pp. 1267–1280) couples the
influence of root morphology and soil type on tree anchorage,
and reveals the relative effects of lateral roots and the distal
tap root on tree overturning. The contribution of secondary
root growth to acclimation to mechanical stress is discussed.
Three-dimensional evaluation of roots in unstable sloping sites
Vegetation can
stabilize landslide-prone sites.
Danjon et al. (pp. 1281–1293) use 3-D digitized images to assess root-system architecture
of woody plants growing on slopes and show that such data can
be used to obtain accurate estimates of factors affecting safety.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
Related articles in Ann Bot:
- Plant Growth Modelling and Applications: The Increasing Importance of Plant Architecture in Growth Models
- Thierry Fourcaud, Xiaopeng Zhang, Alexia Stokes, Hans Lambers, and Christian Körner
Ann Bot 2008 101: 1053-1063.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- Models for Forest Ecosystem Management: A European Perspective
- H. Pretzsch, R. Grote, B. Reineking, Th. Rötzer, and St. Seifert
Ann Bot 2008 101: 1065-1087.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- A Dynamical Model of Environmental Effects on Allocation to Carbon-based Secondary Compounds in Juvenile Trees
- S. Gayler, T. E. E. Grams, W. Heller, D. Treutter, and E. Priesack
Ann Bot 2008 101: 1089-1098.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- The Derivation of Sink Functions of Wheat Organs using the GREENLAB Model
- Mengzhen Kang, Jochem B. Evers, Jan Vos, and Philippe de Reffye
Ann Bot 2008 101: 1099-1108.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- A Rule-based Model of Barley Morphogenesis, with Special Respect to Shading and Gibberellic Acid Signal Transduction
- Gerhard Buck-Sorlin, Reinhard Hemmerling, Ole Kniemeyer, Benno Burema, and Winfried Kurth
Ann Bot 2008 101: 1109-1123.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- AmapSim: A Structural Whole-plant Simulator Based on Botanical Knowledge and Designed to Host External Functional Models
- Jean-François Barczi, Hervé Rey, Yves Caraglio, Philippe de Reffye, Daniel Barthélémy, Qiao Xue Dong, and Thierry Fourcaud
Ann Bot 2008 101: 1125-1138.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- Using a 3-D Virtual Sunflower to Simulate Light Capture at Organ, Plant and Plot Levels: Contribution of Organ Interception, Impact of Heliotropism and Analysis of Genotypic Differences
- Hervé Rey, Jean Dauzat, Karine Chenu, Jean-François Barczi, Guillermo A. A. Dosio, and Jérémie Lecoeur
Ann Bot 2008 101: 1139-1151.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- Using Virtual Plants to Analyse the Light-foraging Efficiency of a Low-density Cotton Crop
- Jean Dauzat, Pascal Clouvel, Delphine Luquet, and Pierre Martin
Ann Bot 2008 101: 1153-1166.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- A Three-dimensional Statistical Reconstruction Model of Grapevine (Vitis vinifera) Simulating Canopy Structure Variability within and between Cultivar/Training System Pairs
- Gaëtan Louarn, Jérémie Lecoeur, and Eric Lebon
Ann Bot 2008 101: 1167-1184.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- Parameter Optimization and Field Validation of the Functional–Structural Model GREENLAB for Maize at Different Population Densities
- Yuntao Ma, Meiping Wen, Yan Guo, Baoguo Li, Paul-Henry Cournède, and Philippe de Reffye
Ann Bot 2008 101: 1185-1194.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- Does the Structure–Function Model GREENLAB Deal with Crop Phenotypic Plasticity Induced by Plant Spacing? A Case Study on Tomato
- Qiaoxue Dong, Gaëtan Louarn, Yiming Wang, Jean-Francois Barczi, and Philippe de Reffye
Ann Bot 2008 101: 1195-1206.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- Computing Competition for Light in the GREENLAB Model of Plant Growth: A Contribution to the Study of the Effects of Density on Resource Acquisition and Architectural Development
- Paul-Henry Cournède, Amélie Mathieu, François Houllier, Daniel Barthélémy, and Philippe de Reffye
Ann Bot 2008 101: 1207-1219.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- Exploring Ecological Significance of Tree Crown Plasticity through Three-dimensional Modelling
- G. Vincent and D. Harja
Ann Bot 2008 101: 1221-1231.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- Rhythms and Alternating Patterns in Plants as Emergent Properties of a Model of Interaction between Development and Functioning
- Amélie Mathieu, Paul-Henry Cournède, Daniel Barthélémy, and Philippe de Reffye
Ann Bot 2008 101: 1233-1242.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- Quantitative Genetics and Functional–Structural Plant Growth Models: Simulation of Quantitative Trait Loci Detection for Model Parameters and Application to Potential Yield Optimization
- Véronique Letort, Paul Mahe, Paul-Henry Cournède, Philippe de Reffye, and Brigitte Courtois
Ann Bot 2008 101: 1243-1254.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- A System for Modelling Cell–Cell Interactions during Plant Morphogenesis
- Lionel Dupuy, Jonathan Mackenzie, Tim Rudge, and Jim Haseloff
Ann Bot 2008 101: 1255-1265.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- Understanding the Impact of Root Morphology on Overturning Mechanisms: A Modelling Approach
- Thierry Fourcaud, Jin-Nan Ji, Zhi-Qiang Zhang, and Alexia Stokes
Ann Bot 2008 101: 1267-1280.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- Using Three-dimensional Plant Root Architecture in Models of Shallow-slope Stability
- Frédéric Danjon, David H. Barker, Michael Drexhage, and Alexia Stokes
Ann Bot 2008 101: 1281-1293.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
