Je. Olesen et K. Grevsen, A simulation model of climate effects on plant productivity and variability in cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L-botrytis), SCI HORT A, 83(2), 2000, pp. 83-107
The paper describes a model of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. botrytis)
growth and development under conditions where water and nutrients are not l
imiting. The model consists of four linked processes: crop development, lea
f area expansion, increase in curd diameter and growth of dry matter. The m
odel aims to describe variability between plants in time of curd initiation
and harvest. Crop development is described as a function of temperature on
ly. Leaf area expansion is described by a logistic function where growth ra
te depends on temperature. Temperature and available carbohydrates control
the rate of increase in curd diameter. Dry matter assimilation is a functio
n of intercepted radiation and of demand for dry matter growth. The assimil
ates are distributed among the organs in proportion to their demand. The mo
del was calibrated for the cultivar Plana using data from a growth chamber
experiment and from a field experiment. A verification of the model against
field data showed that the model was able to reproduce variability in curd
diameter, indicating that variability in curd size is caused by variabilit
y in time of curd initiation. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights res
erved.