Use of a structure-function plant model to assess the morphogenetic plasticity. How does variation in phyllochron modify plant growth and development of Brassica napus in the GreenLab model?

A functional-structural model of winter oilseed rape (WOSR) has been developed to study plant morphogenetic plasticity, i.e. how processes of morphogenesis are adapted in response to environmental constraints. The phyllochron (time between emergence of two successive leaves) is one of the variables sensitive to environment. The aim of this article is to use model sensitivity analysis to quantify the impact of an increase or a reduction in phyllochron on plant growth and source/sink functioning.