planteMODeller

PlanteMODeller refers to a family of modeling approaches aimed at simulating plant structure, physiology, and interactions with the environment. The concept is used to integrate genetic information, environmental conditions, and management practices to forecast growth, development, and yield. It encompasses computational models, data-driven models, and physical or conceptual representations used to study plants across scales—from cellular processes to whole-plant architecture.

In practice, planteMODeller includes functional-structural plant models (FSPMs) that combine plant morphology with physiological processes, as well as crop growth models that estimate biomass production and phenology. Other implementations are dynamic models that simulate photosynthesis, respiration, carbon allocation, water and nutrient transport, and responses to light, temperature, and moisture. Data inputs typically include genotype, soil properties, climate data, and management actions; outputs include leaf area, biomass, phenological stage, and expected yield. Calibration and validation against experimental or field data are essential steps.

Applications span crop breeding and selection, greenhouse management, and climate risk assessment. Platforms range from exploring hypothetical genotypes to optimizing irrigation schedules, planting densities, and nutrient regimes. The modality can be modular, allowing researchers to replace or extend components such as photosynthesis models or root-soil interactions. Open-source toolkits and collaborations across agronomy, physiology, and computer science have advanced planteMODeller adoption, with emphasis on reproducibility and uncertainty analysis.

Related terms include functional-structural plant modeling and dynamic crop models. The term itself is often used in Scandinavian or multilingual contexts to denote plant modeling as a discipline rather than a single software package.