Research Interests:
The DIF concept states that equal internode length can be achieved with the same difference between day and night temperature irrespective of the mean 24 h temperature. However, the physiological background of the DIF concept is unclear.... more
The DIF concept states that equal internode length can be achieved with the same difference between day and night temperature irrespective of the mean 24 h temperature. However, the physiological background of the DIF concept is unclear. An attempt to model internode elongation is presented based on three plausible processes, namely (1) the accumulation of elongation requirements during the day, (2) elongation during the night using elongation requirements and (3) the limitation of internode length due to low turgor pressure unable to counter cell wall elasticity. Each reaction rate constant, one per process, depends on temperature according to Arrhenius' Law. The resulting process-based model describes internode elongation in time and was calibrated on a chrysanthemum data set. Chrysanthemum plants were grown in growth chambers with rigorously defined day and night temperatures. In total, 16 temperature treatments were applied, resulting from the combination of four day and four night temperatures (16, 20, 24 and 28 degrees C). Internode elongation was measured for the tenth internode in ten plants per treatment. The percentage variance accounted for, R2adj, was almost 91%. Transferability of model parameters was shown to exist by cross validation. Simulation of the internode length in time as function of mean 24 h temperature and DIF showed that the DIF concept is not apparent after a growing period of 10 d, but is visible after 20 d. This model structure for describing internode elongation might also be applicable for other plants that show the DIF concept.
Research Interests:
A model based on our present knowledge of photosynthetic energy transduction is presented. Calculated electric potential profiles are compared with microelectrode recordings of the thylakoid electric potential during and after actinic... more
A model based on our present knowledge of photosynthetic energy transduction is presented. Calculated electric potential profiles are compared with microelectrode recordings of the thylakoid electric potential during and after actinic illumination periods of intermediate duration. The information content of the measured electric response is disclosed by a comparison of experimental results with calculations. The proton flux through the ATP synthase complex is seen to markedly influence the electric response. Also the imbalance in maximum turnover rate between the two photosystems, common to obligate shade plants like Peperomia metallica used in the microelectrode experiments, is clearly reflected in the electric potential profile.