ibclogo XVI International Botanical Congess


Abstract Number: 4276
Session = 12.12.5


MODELLING MICROCLIMATE IN VIRTUAL PLANT CANOPIES


Michael Chelle & Bruno Andrieu, INRA, Bioclimatologie, 78850 Thiverval-Grignon, France


Microclimate affects many aspects of plant growth and transfer of substances from plants to the environment. Virtual plants can generate realistic specifications of plant architecture, allowing physical conditions to be calculated for individual organs or spatial positions. Light transfer is well understood and accurate models have been developed. Organ temperature depends on the radiation budget and on heat and water fluxes under physiological regulation. No general approach exists and several different models have been built. Pioneering models of water splash and flow in virtual plant canopies have also been developed. There is considerable potential for using virtual plants with environmental physics to improve understanding of plant behaviour and impacts of agriculture on the environment.


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