A canopy architectural model to study the competitive ability of chickpea with sowthistle

Cici, S-Zahra-Hosseini, Adkins, Steve and Hanan, Jim (2008) A canopy architectural model to study the competitive ability of chickpea with sowthistle. Annals of Botany, 101 9: 1311-1318.


Author Cici, S-Zahra-Hosseini
Adkins, Steve
Hanan, Jim
Title A canopy architectural model to study the competitive ability of chickpea with sowthistle
Journal name Annals of Botany  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank A)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2008-06
Sub-type Article
DOI 10.1093/aob/mcn040
Volume number 101
Issue number 9
ISSN 0305-7364
1095-8290
Start page 1311
End page 1318
Total pages 8
Editor J. S. Heslop-Harrison
Place of publication Oxford, United Kingdom
Publisher Oxford University Press
Collection year 2009
Language eng
Subject C1
960413 Control of Plant Pests, Diseases and Exotic Species in Farmland, Arable Cropland and Permanent Cropland Environments
070308 Crop and Pasture Protection (Pests, Diseases and Weeds)
080110 Simulation and Modelling
Formatted abstract Background and Aims
Improving the competitive ability of crops is a sustainable method of weed management. This paper shows how a virtual plant model of competition between chickpea (Cicer arietinum) and sowthistle (Sonchus oleraceus) can be used as a framework for discovering and/or developing more competitive chickpea cultivars.

Methods
The virtual plant models were developed using the L-systems formalism, parameterized according to measurements taken on plants at intervals during their development. A quasi-Monte Carlo light-environment model was used to model the effect of chickpea canopy on the development of sowthistle. The chickpea–light environment–sowthistle model (CLES model) captured the hypothesis that the architecture of chickpea plants modifies the light environment inside the canopy and determines sowthistle growth and development pattern. The resulting CLES model was parameterized for different chickpea cultivars (viz. ‘Macarena’, ‘Bumper’, ‘Jimbour’ and ‘99071-1001’) to compare their competitive ability with sowthistle. To validate the CLES model, an experiment was conducted using the same four chickpea cultivars as different treatments with a sowthistle growing under their canopy.

Results and Conclusions
The growth of sowthistle, both in silico and in glasshouse experiments, was reduced most by ‘99071-1001’, a cultivar with a short phyllochron. The second rank of competitive ability belonged to ‘Macarena’ and ‘Bumper’, while ‘Jimbour’ was the least competitive cultivar. The architecture of virtual chickpea plants modified the light inside the canopy, which influenced the growth and development of the sowthistle plants in response to different cultivars. This is the first time that a virtual plant model of a crop–weed interaction has been developed. This virtual plant model can serve as a platform for a broad range of applications in the study of chickpea–weed interactions and their environment.
Keyword Plant architecture
Virtual plant modelling
L-systems formalism
Crop/weed competition
Integrated weed management
Chickpea
Cicer arietinum
Sowthistle
Sonchus oleraceus
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Confirmed Code

 
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Created: Wed, 08 Apr 2009, 11:34:14 EST by Emma Cushworth on behalf of School of Land, Crop and Food Sciences