A MATHEMATICAL MODEL FOR PREDICTING THE LIGHT IRRADIANCE INSIDE THE PLANT TISSUE CULTURE VESSELS

Abstract

In micro-propagation industry, light irradiance inside the plant culture vessel is one of the most important environmental factors affecting the growth of plantlets inside the culture vessels. Practically it is difficult to measure the light irradiance inside such culture vessel. A mathematical model was developed to predict the light irradiance, the internal transmittance and the transmittance distribution at any plant level along the vessel height. In order to validate the model, three types of culture vessels; GA-7 box vessel, square box vessel, and round vessel were selected to apply the model and the error of the model was analyzed. The mathematical model predicts a Mean Relative Error (MRE) of 0.35 % for square vessel type, 0.26 % For GA-7 box vessel, and 0.68 % for round vessel type. The characteristics of square based vessels and round based vessels were investigated. Also a comparison between these two main categories was investigated. From the comparison it was found that square vessels give irradiance distribution uniformity better than round vessels for zero side wall inclination, but for inclination angle greater than one degree, the uniformity of distribution of irradiance for round vessels is better than that of square vessels.