Studies of computer simulation of water transport in plants

The pattern of water transport in plants is an important part in ecology study and is the theoretical basis of water conservation of plants, which have gotten more attention worldwide. The paper reviews the past studies of the computer simulation of water transport in plants and discusses the simulation models of water uptake of plant root systems, water transport within plants and canopy transpiration in plants. Based on the review and discussion, several areas most concerned about studies of the computer simulation of plants water transport are pointed out: (1) The study shall pay more attention to the microcosmic mechanism of water transport within plants. (2) The fact of growth of plants should be considered while the water transport model of plants is established. And the water transport models of plants and the growth models of plants should be interconnected and matched simultaneously in space and time. (3) Combined with soil-plant-atmosphere continuum, the mutual interaction of plant growth and plant water transport in different areas should be considered to study plant water transport.