MORPHOLOGICAL MODELS OF PLANT GROWTH : POSSIBILITIES AND ECOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Abstract Three-dimensional models of plant architecture and growth, based on botanical knowledge, have direct applications in simulations of photosynthetically active radiation transfer in forest stands and in models of water conduction and transpiration. Furthermore, they can serve as a basis for future tree models which have to integrate the aspects of light interception, hydraulics, mechanical stability, gas exchange and carbon allocation. Models which reflect the genetically fixed aspect of plant architecture have already reached a high level, with a combination of Lindenmayer systems and stochastic processes as a theoretical basis. The AMAP approach (de Reffye et al., CIRAD, Montpellier, France) is the most elaborated one and has also led to excellent graphical results. Further potential lies in the parameterisation of the underlying grammars and distributions, which allows the full inclusion of external growth factors like light and water availability, of mechanical obstacles, and of physiological constraints. Some preliminary graphical results are shown which were produced by a program executing a simple form of stochastic growth grammars.