Functional-Structural Plant Modelling in Crop Production

Proceedings of the Frontis Workshop on Functional-Structural Plant Modelling in Crop Production, Wageningen, The Netherlands, 5-8 March 2006
Editors:
J. Vos
Crop and Weed Ecology Group
Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands
L.F.M. Marcelis
Plant Research International
Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands
P.H.B. de Visser
Plant Research International
Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands
P.C. Struik
Crop and Weed Ecology Group
Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands
J.B. Evers
Crop and Weed Ecology Group
Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands
Series editor:
R.J. Bogers
Frontis – Wageningen International Nucleus for Strategic Expertise
Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands
About the book | Table of Contents
Functional-structural plant models, FSPMs or virtual plant
models, are the terms used to refer to models explicitly
describing the development over time of the three-dimensional
(3D) architecture or structure of plants as governed by
physiological processes, the timing of which is determined by
environmental factors. FSPMs are particularly suited to analyse
problems in which the spatial structure of the plant or plant
canopy is an essential factor contributing to the explanation of
the behaviour of the system of study. Applications of FSPMs
therefore include the study of plant competition (intra-plant,
inter-plant, inter-species), and analysis of the effects of plant
configuration and plant manipulation (e.g. pruning and
harvesting) on the quantity and quality of the produce.
This book provides an introduction to functional-structural plant
modelling. Several platforms and tools are described for making
FSPMs. These include L-Systems (L-Studio), relational growth
grammars (GroIMP), VICA and Greenlab. Methods for measuring
essential parameters, including architectural ones, are outlined.
FSPMs offer new opportunities to model sink-source interactions.
Therefore the physiological theory on partitioning of carbon, as
well as modelling approaches, is given specific attention.
Crop-specific approaches to modelling plant structure and
function are included (wheat, broad bean, chrysanthemum,
cucumber). 3D plant models are not the final goal in themselves
but provide innovative, enabling tools for studying a system.
Examples in the book include wheat modelling in the context of
remote-sensing research and the analysis of predator-prey insect
interactions on glasshouse plants.
The book will be useful for scientists and students interested in
advanced approaches in plant and crop modelling.
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