Document Detail


Rhythms and alternating patterns in plants as emergent properties of a model of interaction between development and functioning.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  17715304     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To model plasticity of plants in their environment, a new version of the functional-structural model GREENLAB has been developed with full interactions between architecture and functioning. Emergent properties of this model were revealed by simulations, in particular the automatic generation of rhythms in plant development. Such behaviour can be observed in natural phenomena such as the appearance of fruit (cucumber or capsicum plants, for example) or branch formation in trees. METHODS: In the model, a single variable, the source-sink ratio controls different events in plant architecture. In particular, the number of fruits and branch formation are determined as increasing functions of this ratio. For some sets of well-chosen parameters of the model, the dynamical evolution of the ratio during plant growth generates rhythms. KEY RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Cyclic patterns in branch formation or fruit appearance emerge without being forced by the model. The model is based on the theory of discrete dynamical systems. The mathematical formalism helps us to explain rhythm generation and to control the behaviour of the system. Rhythms can appear during both the exponential and stabilized phases of growth, but the causes are different as shown by an analytical study of the system. Simulated plant behaviours are very close to those observed on real plants. With a small number of parameters, the model gives very interesting results from a qualitative point of view. It will soon be subjected to experimental data to estimate the model parameters.
Authors:
Amélie Mathieu; Paul-Henry Cournède; Daniel Barthélémy; Philippe de Reffye
Related Documents :
20601944 - Hysteresis-free operation of suspended carbon nanotube transistors.
12636474 - Universality classification of restricted solid-on-solid type surface growth models.
20366774 - Spiral two-phase dendrites.
15128564 - Particle-based multidimensional multispecies biofilm model.
21102944 - Comparison of phase-unwrapping algorithms by using gradient of first failure.
21935184 - Towards total photonic control of complex-shaped colloids by vortex beams.
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article     Date:  2007-08-22
Journal Detail:
Title:  Annals of botany     Volume:  101     ISSN:  1095-8290     ISO Abbreviation:  Ann. Bot.     Publication Date:  2008 May 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2008-05-01     Completed Date:  2008-08-01     Revised Date:  2010-09-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0372347     Medline TA:  Ann Bot     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1233-42     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Ecole Centrale Paris, Laboratoire de Mathématiques Appliquées aux Systèmes, Grande Voie des Vignes, 92295 Chatenay Malabry, France. mathieu@mas.ecp.fr
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Computer Simulation
Fruit / growth & development,  physiology
Models, Theoretical*
Morphogenesis
Plants / growth & development*
Time Factors
Comments/Corrections

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Protection of telomeres by a conserved Stn1-Ten1 complex.
Next Document:  Differentiation of malignant from benign distal ureteral obstructions: assessment using transrectal ...