TY - JOUR

T1 - Experiments for in silico evaluation of Optimality of Photosynthetic Nitrogen Distribution and Partitioning in the Canopy

T2 - An Example Using Greenhouse Cucumber Plants

AU - Stützel, Hartmut

AU - Pao, Yi-Chen

AU - Chen, Tsu-Wei

AU - Moualeu-Ngangue, Dany Pascal

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG). This protocol is modified

PY - 2020/3/20

Y1 - 2020/3/20

N2 - Acclimation of leaf traits to fluctuating environments is a key mechanism to maximize fitness. One of the most important strategies in acclimation to changing light is to maintain efficient utilization of nitrogen in the photosynthetic apparatus by continuous modifications of between-leaf distribution along the canopy depth and within-leaf partitioning between photosynthetic functions according to local light availability. Between-leaf nitrogen distribution has been intensively studied over the last three decades, where proportional coordination between nitrogen concentration and light gradient was considered optimal in terms of maximizing canopy photosynthesis, without taking other canopy structural and physiological factors into account. We proposed a mechanistic model of protein turnover dynamics in different photosynthetic functions, which can be parameterized using leaves grown under different levels of constant light. By integrating this dynamic model into a multi-layer canopy model, constructed using data collected from a greenhouse experiment, it allowed us to test in silico the degree of optimality in photosynthetic nitrogen use for maximizing canopy carbon assimilation under given light environments.

AB - Acclimation of leaf traits to fluctuating environments is a key mechanism to maximize fitness. One of the most important strategies in acclimation to changing light is to maintain efficient utilization of nitrogen in the photosynthetic apparatus by continuous modifications of between-leaf distribution along the canopy depth and within-leaf partitioning between photosynthetic functions according to local light availability. Between-leaf nitrogen distribution has been intensively studied over the last three decades, where proportional coordination between nitrogen concentration and light gradient was considered optimal in terms of maximizing canopy photosynthesis, without taking other canopy structural and physiological factors into account. We proposed a mechanistic model of protein turnover dynamics in different photosynthetic functions, which can be parameterized using leaves grown under different levels of constant light. By integrating this dynamic model into a multi-layer canopy model, constructed using data collected from a greenhouse experiment, it allowed us to test in silico the degree of optimality in photosynthetic nitrogen use for maximizing canopy carbon assimilation under given light environments.

KW - Functional partitioning

KW - Light fluctuation

KW - Mechanistic model

KW - Nitrogen reallocation

KW - Optimality

KW - Photosynthetic acclimation

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85121260115&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.21769/BioProtoc.3556

DO - 10.21769/BioProtoc.3556

M3 - Article

VL - 10

JO - Journal of Experimental Botany

JF - Journal of Experimental Botany

SN - 0022-0957

IS - 6

M1 - e3556

ER -