Mathematical Modeling of Photosynthesis and Analysis of Plant Productivity

Abstract

Photosynthesis is the basis of the plant production process, which makes it extremely relevant to develop methods for evaluating and predicting it under various environmental conditions. The complexity of photosynthetic processes and the presence of numerous feedbacks in it make it important to develop complex approaches to its analysis, including mathematical modeling. This review analyzes mathematical models of photosynthetic processes at various levels (from processes in thylakoid membranes up to the level of the whole plant and ecosystem) and assesses potential ways to use them to study plant productivity. First of all, models describing the functioning of photosynthetic reaction centers (including primary charge separation, fluorescence, heat dissipation, etc.) are noted; they are widely used for interpreting experimental data in the analysis of photosynthetic processes in plants. The next group of models focuses on the description of electron transport by a photosynthetic electron transport chain or its parts (in particular, photosystem II). Such models can be used both for analyzing experimental data and for predicting damage to the photosynthetic apparatus under conditions of rapid changes in environmental conditions (for example, fluctuations in light intensity). Models that take into account the dark stage of photosynthesis rely on the idea of limiting stages for CO2 fixation or on detailed descriptions of Calvin–Benson cycle reactions. Models of this group can already be directly used to describe the production process. More complex models, in addition to describing photosynthesis, can also take into account the propagation of light and CO2 fluxes in the leaf and the interaction of photosynthesis with other physiological processes; this makes it possible to use such models to predict plant productivity under different conditions or under modifications of the photosynthetic apparatus. The review also analyzes “supra-organismal” photosynthetic models, which are based on fairly simple descriptions of photosynthetic processes and can be used to analyze productivity at the level of vegetation cover, natural or artificial ecosystems. In general, numerous mathematical models of photosynthesis at various levels are aimed at solving a wide range of research and practical problems. In particular, they can be potentially used to assess violations of crop productivity in unstable growing conditions or to optimize it in stable protected ground conditions. A promising direction for the development of photosynthetic modeling is the integration of individual models of various levels into a single photosynthesis modeling environment.