Elements of a dynamic systems model of canopy photosynthesis.
Improving photosynthesis throughout the full canopy rather than photosynthesis of only the top leaves of the canopy is central to improving crop yields. Many canopy photosynthesis models have been developed from physiological and ecological perspectives, however most do not consider heterogeneities of microclimatic factors inside a canopy, canopy dynamics and associated energetics, or competition among different plants, and most models lack a direct linkage to molecular processes. Here we described the rationale, elements, and approaches necessary to build a dynamic systems model of canopy photosynthesis. A systems model should integrate metabolic processes including photosynthesis, respiration, nitrogen metabolism, resource re-mobilization and photosynthate partitioning with canopy level light, CO(2), water vapor distributions and heat exchange processes. In so doing a systems-based canopy photosynthesis model will enable studies of molecular ecology and dramatically improve our insight into engineering crops for improved canopy photosynthetic CO(2) uptake, resource use efficiencies and yields.
State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice Research, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yueyang Road 320, Shanghai, China. zhuxinguang@picb.ac.cn
Xin-Guang
XG
Zhu
Qingfeng
Q
Song
Donald R
DR
Ort
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000528:radiation effects; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D008027:Light; D008954:Models, Biological; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D014197:Trees / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects
D002245:Carbon Dioxide