Modelling leaf phototropism in a cucumber canopy
Katrin Kahlen A B , Dirk Wiechers A and Hartmut Stützel AA Institute of Biological Production Systems, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Herrenhäuser Straße 2, 30419 Hannover, Germany.
B Corresponding author. Email: kahlen@gem.uni-hannover.de
This paper originates from a presentation at the 5th International Workshop on Functional–Structural Plant Models, Napier, New Zealand, November 2007.
Functional Plant Biology 35(10) 876-884 https://doi.org/10.1071/FP08034
Submitted: 22 February 2008 Accepted: 29 July 2008 Published: 11 November 2008
Abstract
Leaf phototropism might have significant effects on the light interception, dry matter production and yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). The objective of the present study was to model the phototropism of leaves in a greenhouse cucumber canopy. The dynamic structural model of cucumber using a parametric L-system was extended to mimic the leaf movement induced by gradients in the local light environment of each leaf. The red to far-red (R : FR) ratio is known to be a driving force in shade avoidance reactions of plants. In the model, R : FR ratios on the left and right leaf half of each individual leaf lamina were calculated and the change in tropism angle per phyllochron was based on the R : FR gradient across the leaf halves. The tropism angle of a leaf describes the deviation of the present leaf azimuth from the initial leaf orientation, which is predefined by the phyllotaxis of the plant. Even in its simple form, the model simulated photo-morphogenic canopy responses.
Additional keywords: Cucumis sativus L., functional–structural plant model, L-system, light, petiole bending, tropism.
Acknowledgements
We thank Michael Chelle and Pieter de Visser for the support of the CARIBU interface. This project has been supported in part by the German Research Foundation (DFG).
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