Leaf Development and Canopy Growth

1. Auflage 2000
ISBN: 978-0-8493-9769-1
Verlag: Taylor & Francis

Buch, Englisch, 330 Seiten, Format (B × H): 156 mm x 234 mm, Gewicht: 775 g

Reihe: Sheffield Biological Siences

The focus of leaf development modeling in the last two decades has been on predicting commercial crop yields and identifying the constraints on them. The weakness of this approach: the implicit belief in the existence of a "global brain" deciding which parts of the plant are deficient and directing remedial action. Leaf Development and Canopy Growth presents an alternative view based on "local rules" - the simple results of metabolic processes within each cell. These rules and the interconnections between them provide the means for self-organization within the plant and emergent global behavior - the "apparent" brain.
The book discusses the evolution of plant forms in relation to fitness for survival. It demonstrates the potential for the existence of several alternative forms which are locally optimal on a fitness landscape - alternatives that increase with the number and order of selection pressures imposed. It covers the leaf laminae and their utilization of absorbed energy to fix carbon from the atmosphere. The editors consider a diverse range of species, both as monocultures and mixed-plant communities.
The evolution of plant forms affects the diversity and survival of the whole canopy and diversity within the canopy. Leaf Development and Canopy Growth explores this relationship in a thorough and thought-provoking manner. It places the leaf and canopy in the context of the whole plant and the survival of community diversity - both within and between species.

Zielgruppe

Professional

Autoren/Hrsg.

Marshall, Bruce

Roberts, Jeremy A.

Fachgebiete

• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Botanik

Inhaltsverzeichnis

The evolution of form and function-K.J. NiklasPlants as self-organising systems-Federico Magnani and John GraceGenetic analysis of leaf development and differentiation-Toshi Foster and Bruce VeitSpatio-temporal variation of leaf growth, development and function-A. Walter and U. SchurrPlant architecture and light signals-Harry SmithDevelopment of the photosynthetic apparatus-Andrew N. WebberNitrogen utilisation and the photosynthetic system-Niels P. R. Anten, Kpuki Hikosaka and Tadaki HiroseModelling interactions in mixed-plant communities: light, water and carbon dioxide-J. Wallace and A. VerhoefGap dynamics-Ronald J. Ryel and Wolfram BeyschlagPlant canopy and diversity-G. R. SquireIndex

Über Autor(innen)

Bruce Marshall, Jeremy A. Roberts