Simulation Model for Studying Physiological Water Stress Responses of Whole Plants

(…) Simulations with the model demonstrated how the assumption of a hyperbolic dependence of photosynthetic rate on internal CO 2 concentration could lead to an increase in water use efficiency as stomates close. The model confirmed published data showing that stomatal closure induced by salinization increases the efficiency under water stress and leads to a greater C gain per irrigation cycle. Other simulations demonstrated how an increase in the volume of soil explored by unit mass of new roots could lead to greater amounts of water uptake and C gain per cycle. Interactions among these and other factors can be studied in a way that would not otherwise be possible