Introducing turgor-driven growth dynamics into functional–structural plant models

摘要

Background and AimsIn many scenarios the availability of assimilated carbon is not the constraining factor of plant growth. Rather, organ growth appears driven by sink activity in which water availability plays a determinant role. Current functional–structural plant models (FSPMs) mainly focus on plant-carbon relations and largely disregard the importance of plant water status in organogenesis. Consequently, incorporating a turgor-driven growth concept, coupling carbon and water dynamics in an FSPM, presents a significant improvement towards capturing plant development in a more mechanistic manner.