Mathematical modelling of transport processes in plant tissues with consideration of the internal microstructure

• Applicant: Dr. Andrés Chavarria Krauser
• Subject Area: Plant Physiology
• Term: from 2010 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 174858633

The main goal of the project is to increase the knowledge on transport processes in plants and plant tissues by using an interdisciplinary approach based on quantitative mathematical models. The project will focus on three processes: transport from the soil (uptake), plant internal transport (distribution) and gas exchange with the atmosphere (photosynthesis). Not only nutrients, water (fluid and gaseous) and CO2 will be considered, but also other compounds which are toxic for plants and humans, such as heavy metals and dioxins. To achieve the main goal, a general framework for modelling transport processes in plant tissues on a mesoscopic scale will be established and used in two specific applications: water transport in roots and gas exchange in leaves. The framework comprises the steps: posing and coupling of flow and transport equations with suitable boundary conditions, mathematical simplification of the models (e.g. asymptotic analysis), establishment of numerical simulation kits, parameter estimation and model validation. From a mathematical point of view, the project is interesting because: geometries are complex and time dependent, transport paths are multifaceted (symplastic, apoplastic and transcellular), transmission conditions are nonlinear (surface reactions), processes span over several scales (multi-scale problem), and at the same time it will be possible to generalize the results. The mathematical models will be posed considering the physiology of plants and plant cells, and will be coupled to gene regulation (molecular scale). On the one hand, this implies a strong connection to molecular models, while on the other, a tight collaboration with experimental partners will be a must. This will allow to test and pose new hypothesis on how transport phenomena interact with geometry and gene regulation inside plant tissues.

• DFG Programme: Independent Junior Research Groups