Influence of canopy structure on light interception and productivity of greenhouse cucumber

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In greenhouse vegetable production where temperature, CO2, water and nutrients can be regulated towards optimal supply, light interception is the major factor limiting productivity. In these crops, canopy architecture can be designed by plant distribution or pruning, making functional-structural plant models an interesting option for the evaluation of the relationships between canopy architecture, light interception and productivity. Cucumber with its distinct row structure exemplify spatially heterogeneous canopies. The aim of this project is to develop a model that allows to study the effects of canopy architecture on light interception, photosynthesis and dry matter partitioning in cucumber. While the structural part is presently under development, the modules for radiation transfer, photosynthesis and assimilate allocation are to be developed and coupled within the proposed project. To represent the spatial heterogeneity, processes will be described on an organ basis. Five experiments will be conducted in which canopy structure is determined by electromagnetic digitising, and spatial light distribution, photosynthesis and dry matter partitioning are measured. Data are used to parameterise and evaluate the three modules.