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Glossary

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Allometry
Physiology. Allometry, also called biological scaling, in biology, the change in organisms in relation to proportional changes in body size. Allometry is often considered to be one of the few laws in biology. Allometric equations take the general form Y = a.Mb, where Y is some biological variable, M is a measure of body size, and b is some scaling exponent.

Architecture
Botany. Plant architecture refers to an organization in the plant and its dynamic processes during the plant life span.
The architecture of a plant depends on the nature and on the relative arrangement of each of its parts; it is, at any given time, the expression of an equilibrium between endogenous growth processes and exogenous constraints exerted by the environment (Barthélémy et Caraglio, 2007).

Architectural Model
Botany. The architectural model is an inherent growth strategy that defines both the manner in which the plant elaborates its form and the resulting architecture (Barthélémy et Caraglio, 2007).
See also: Architectural Unit.

Architectural Unit
Botany. The architectural Unit of a given plant species is the specific expression of its architectural model. The architectural Unit of a plant can be seen as a hierarchical branched system in which the axes can be grouped into categories according to their morphological, anatomical or functional distinctive features (Barthélémy et Caraglio, 2007).
See also: Architectural Model.

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Bernoulli trial , process
Mathematics. In the theory of probability and statistics, a Bernoulli trial (or binomial trial) is a random experiment with exactly two possible outcomes, "success" and "failure", in which the probability of success is the same every time the experiment is conducted. The mathematical formalization of the Bernoulli trial is known as the Bernoulli process.


Binomial distribution
Mathematics. In the theory of probability and statistics, the binomial distribution is the discrete probability distribution of the number of successes in a sequence of n independent yes/no experiments, each of which yields success with probability p. Such a success/failure experiment is also called a Bernoulli experiment or Bernoulli trial; when n = 1, the binomial distribution is a Bernoulli distribution.

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Cataphyll
Botany. In plant morphology, a cataphyll (sometimes also called a cataphylla, or cataphyll leaf) is a leaf whose primary function is something other than photosynthesis. Cataphylls are at most trivially or transiently photosynthetic, and instead of photosynthesis the main functions of most types are storage, protection, or structural support.

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Dual Scale Automaton (Botanical Automaton)
Computer Sciences. A Dual-Scale or Botanical Automaton is a specific Dual Scale finite-state machine. A particular finite-state machine is defined by a list of its states, and the triggering condition for each transition. In a Botanical Automaton, two lists are used corresponding respectively to the micro-state transitions (at the phytomer level) and to the macro-state transitions (at the growth unit level). This notion was introduced by Xing Zhao in 2001.

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FSPM (Functional Structural Plant Model)
Modelling. (abrev.) Stands for "Functional Structural Plant Model". Qualifies a mathematical or computational model that expresses both the plant architecture (the structure) dynamics thru the development and its production dynamics thru the organ geometrical development.

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Harvest Index
Agronomy. The harvest index defines a measurement of crop yield, defined by the weight of a harvested product as a percentage of the total plant weight of a crop.

Hypopodium
Botany. Botanical entity defined on a branch by the portion of stem below the first leaf on a shoot, between the shoot base and the first node.

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LAI (Leaf Area Index)
Physiology. (abrev.). LAI is a dimensionless quantity that characterizes plant canopies, defined as the one-sided green leaf area per unit ground surface.

LUE (Light Use Efficiency)
Physiology (abrev.). LUE defines the conversion factor between the daily dry biomass production, expressed in gramme per squere meter per day and the absorbed irradiance (PAR) expressed in Mega Joule per square meter per day. Unit: g.MJ-1. See also: PAR, RUE

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Metamer (Phytomer)
Botany. Botanical entity formed by a node, associated with its leaf (or leaves) and axillary bud(s) plus the subtending internode. First defined by White, 1979.

(Mathematical) Model
Mathematics. Set of equations, forming a simplified representation of a system.

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Negative Binomial Distribution
Mathematics. In the theory of probability and statistics, the negative binomial distribution is a discrete probability distribution of the number of successes in a sequence of Bernoulli trials before a specified (non-random) number of failures occurs.

Neoformation
Botany. In rythmic growth, qualifies a shoot (a growth unit part) those componants are not preformed in the bud before elongation. See also Preformation

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PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation)
Physiology (abrev.). PAR defines the wave band of solar radiation that plants are able to use in the process of photosynthesis. In agronomy, PAR is usually expressed in energy units as an irradiance per area. Unit: W.m-2.

PBM (Process Based Model)
Modelling. (abrev.) Stands for "Process Based plant/crop Model". Qualifies a mathematical or computational model that expresses the plant/crop production dynamics.


Physiological Age (of a meristem)
Botany. Relates to the degree of differentiation of the structures produced by the meristem. It can be defined by a combination of morphological, anatomical and functional attributes of resulting entities. Notion introduced by Barthélémy and Caraglio (2007).

Metamer (Phytomer)
Botany. Botanical entity formed by a node, associated with its leaf (or leaves) and axillary bud(s) plus the subtending internode. First defined by White, 1979.


Preformation
Botany. In rythmic growth, qualifies a shoot (a growth unit part) those componants are preformed in the bud before elongation. See also Neoformation

Primary growth
Botany. Primary growth is the growth that occurs as a result of cell division at the tips of stems and roots, and that gives rise to primary tissue building axes.
The primary growth of a plant is the result of several processes that can be grouped into two distinct, but coordinated morphogenetic events: organogenesis and extension (Champagnat et al., 1986).

Prolepsis, Delayed or Proleptic branches
Botany. Prolepsis is the discontinuous development of a lateral meristem to establish a branch, with some intervening period of rest of the lateral meristem. Delayed (or proleptic) branches have one or more basal bud-scales (often arranged in pairs) and usually with a series of transitional forms (transitional in both size and shape) towards the adult leaf. See also Syllepsis


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Reiteration
Botany. Botanical concept used to describe local or global architectural structure duplication. First defined by Oldeman, 1979.

RUE (Radiation Use Efficiency)
Physiology (abrev.). The RUE defines the conversion factor between the dry biomass production, expressed in gramme per square meter per day and the irradiance expressed in Mega Joule per square meter per day. (It differs from LUE in which absorbed irradiance (PAR) is considered). Unit: g.MJ-1. See also: LUE

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Secondary growth
Botany. Secondary growth is the growth that results from cell division in the cambium and that causes the stems and roots to thicken.

SLA (Specific Leaf Area)
Physiology (abrev.) SLA stands for Specific Leaf Area and is defined as the ratio of leaf area to dry mass. (See also SLW). Unit: m2.kg-1.

SLW (Specific Leaf Weight)
Physiology (abrev.) SLWstands for Specific Leaf Weight and is defined as the ratio of leaf dry weight to area. (See also SLA) Unit: g.m-2.

SPM (Structural Plant Model)
Modelling. (abrev.) Stands for "Structural Plant Model", or "Geometrical Plant Model". Qualifies a mathematical or computational model that expresses the plant architecture (the structure) dynamics thru the development. Such a model offers usually a 3D output.

Syllepsis - Immediate or Sylleptic branches
Botany. Syllepsis is the continuous development of a lateral from a terminal meristem, to establish a branch without an evident intervening period of rest of the lateral meristem. Immediate (or sylleptic) branches lack basal bud-scales and have an extended basal internode (hypopodium) generally below the first leaf or pair of leaves. See also Prollepsis

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