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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 35(11)

A model-based analysis of the dynamics of carbon balance at the whole-plant level in Arabidopsis thaliana

Angélique Christophe A E , Véronique Letort B , Irène Hummel A , Paul-Henry Cournède B , Philippe de Reffye C and Jérémie Lecœur D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A INRA, UMR759 LEPSE, 2 place Viala, F-34060 Montpellier, France.

B Ecole Centrale Paris, Applied Mathematics Laboratory, 2 Grande Voie des Vignes, F-92295 Châtenay-Malabry, France.

C Cirad-Amis, TA 40/01 Avenue Agropolis, 34398 Montpellier cedex 5 France and INRIA-Rocquencourt, BP 105, 78153 Le Chesnay cedex, France.

D SupAgro, UMR759 LEPSE, 2 place Viala, F-34060 Montpellier, France.

E Corresponding author. Email: christop@supagro.inra.fr

Functional Plant Biology 35(11) 1147-1162 https://doi.org/10.1071/FP08099
Submitted: 27 March 2008  Accepted: 11 August 2008   Published: 28 November 2008

Abstract

Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. is used as a model plant in many research projects. However, few models simulate its growth at the whole-plant scale. The present study describes the first model of Arabidopsis growth integrating organogenesis, morphogenesis and carbon-partitioning processes for aerial and subterranean parts of the plant throughout its development. The objective was to analyse competition among sinks as they emerge from patterns of plant structural development. The model was adapted from the GreenLab model and was used to estimate organ sink strengths by optimisation against biomass measurements. Dry biomass production was calculated by a radiation use efficiency-based approach. Organogenesis processes were parameterised based on experimental data. The potential of this model for growth analysis was assessed using the Columbia ecotype, which was grown in standard environmental conditions. Three phases were observed in the overall time course of trophic competition within the plant. In the vegetative phase, no competition was observed. In the reproductive phase, competition increased with a strong increase when lateral inflorescences developed. Roots and internodes and structures bearing siliques were strong sinks and had a similar impact on competition. The application of the GreenLab model to the growth analysis of A. thaliana provides new insights into source–sink relationships as functions of phenology and morphogenesis.

Additional keywords: functional–structural models, GreenLab model, plant development, source–sink relationships.


Acknowledgements

The authors thank Zhan Zhigang for his help in designing the flower symbol for the 3D simulations of Arabidopsis plants, and Benoît Pallas and Julie Sappa for valuable discussions.


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