Articles
An effective stem water potential estimation method in tomato plant growth model for more precise digital fruit simulation incorporating microclimate and realistic plant management
Article number
1353_16
Pages
119 – 126
Language
English
Abstract
Tomato is the second most important vegetable crop after potato and a widely studied model organism.
Apart from real-life measurements, mathematical models that translate experimental data into meaningful information for production optimization, are becoming more essential, especially regarding the current challenges of climate change and increasing energy costs.
The objective of this research is to develop a tomato plant growth model incorporating water potential, a connecting variable of physiological processes of the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum.
Two experiments at different sites, measuring plant growth from planting for several months, were conducted to measure leaves and trusses (nodes) appearance rate, stem elongation, leaf area, organs fresh and dry mass, whole-plant transpiration and stem water potential.
Climate (temperature, relative humidity, light radiation) was monitored at different vertical positions.
The collected data were used for parameter estimation and validation of the integrated model coupling a reduced TOMGRO model for plant growth, a transpiration model based on the adaptation of the Penman-Monteith equation, and a water transport model using an analogue of the electric current.
By using a compartment structure, the functional-structural plant model is simplified while preserving structural information.
The top-bottom modelling approach was able to precisely simulate long-term plant growth.
Furthermore, the model accounts for microclimate and allows custom-defined grower treatments as discrete steps in simulation, calculating water potential differences through the plant structure, as observed from experimental trails.
The main aim for the future is to use modeled variables (such as water potential) as an input for the fruit growth and ripening model.
Thanks to the modularity the model can be easily extended by additional organs (e.g., roots) or processes (e.g., photosynthesis). The fruit model incorporating the above plant model will provide more precise results in terms of understanding physiological processes, prediction and optimization.
Apart from real-life measurements, mathematical models that translate experimental data into meaningful information for production optimization, are becoming more essential, especially regarding the current challenges of climate change and increasing energy costs.
The objective of this research is to develop a tomato plant growth model incorporating water potential, a connecting variable of physiological processes of the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum.
Two experiments at different sites, measuring plant growth from planting for several months, were conducted to measure leaves and trusses (nodes) appearance rate, stem elongation, leaf area, organs fresh and dry mass, whole-plant transpiration and stem water potential.
Climate (temperature, relative humidity, light radiation) was monitored at different vertical positions.
The collected data were used for parameter estimation and validation of the integrated model coupling a reduced TOMGRO model for plant growth, a transpiration model based on the adaptation of the Penman-Monteith equation, and a water transport model using an analogue of the electric current.
By using a compartment structure, the functional-structural plant model is simplified while preserving structural information.
The top-bottom modelling approach was able to precisely simulate long-term plant growth.
Furthermore, the model accounts for microclimate and allows custom-defined grower treatments as discrete steps in simulation, calculating water potential differences through the plant structure, as observed from experimental trails.
The main aim for the future is to use modeled variables (such as water potential) as an input for the fruit growth and ripening model.
Thanks to the modularity the model can be easily extended by additional organs (e.g., roots) or processes (e.g., photosynthesis). The fruit model incorporating the above plant model will provide more precise results in terms of understanding physiological processes, prediction and optimization.
Authors
J. Šalagovič, P. Verboven, K. Holsteens, B. Van de Poel, B. Nicolaï
Keywords
plant growth model, tomato, transpiration, water potential, plant structure, mathematical modelling
Groups involved
- Division Temperate Tree Fruits
- Division Temperate Tree Nuts
- Division Vegetables, Roots and Tubers
- Division Plant-Environment Interactions in Field Systems
- Division Horticulture for Human Health
- Division Postharvest and Quality Assurance
- Division Sustaining Horticulture in a Changing World
- Division Tropical and Subtropical Fruit and Nuts
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