Analysis and characterisation of interplant competition on maize canopy morphology for modelling

• Published in: 2016 IEEE International Conference on Functional-Structural Plant Growth Modeling, Simulation, Visualization and Applications (FSPMA) pp. 189 - 193
• Main Authors: Sher, Alam, Liang He, Shihua Zhang, Jincai Li, Youhong Song
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 01.11.2016
• Subjects: Analytical models; canopy development; Conferences; Data collection; Decision support systems; Morphology; Plant density; plant growth modeling; Visualization; Zea mays
• DOI: 10.1109/FSPMA.2016.7818306

Plant growth models able to simulate phenotypic plasticity are increasingly required because (i) they should enable better predictions of the observed variations in crop morphology and production, and (ii) their parameters are expected to have a more robust genetic basis compared to conventional crop models, with possible implications for selection of quantitative traits such as interplant competition tolerance. In this paper, plant density effect on maize canopy morphological development was studied in China during 2009, with a particular focus on characterizing canopy morphological response to increase plant density. Field experiment was composed of four plant densities i.e. 2, 6, 12 and 20 plants m-2 with three replicates. Detailed records on extension of laminae, sheaths and internodes were made throughout the vegetative stages from the field experiment. The relationships of organ size changes to increased plant density were quantified using either polynomial or linear equations. As such, the findings in this study will be used in predicting canopy morphological characteristics as affected as interplant competition.