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A method for quantifying 3D variation in photosynthetic ability in maize canopies
Fusang Liu1,2, Guichao Yu1, Wenfeng Wu3
1National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
Plant Physiology
|November 21, 2025
Summary
A new high-throughput pipeline accurately measures 3D canopy photosynthesis in maize by combining SPAD readings, Bayesian inference, and neural radiance fields (NeRFs). This method reveals significant variations in leaf nitrogen and temperature, improving photosynthesis modeling.
Area of Science:
- Plant Physiology
- Agricultural Science
- Computational Biology
Background:
- Canopy photosynthesis is significantly influenced by the 3D distribution of leaf nitrogen and temperature.
- Existing methods lack efficiency in assessing this 3D heterogeneity and integrating it into photosynthesis models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a high-throughput pipeline for assessing 3D canopy photosynthesis parameters in maize.
- To integrate 3D leaf nitrogen content and temperature data into canopy photosynthesis models.
Main Methods:
- Utilized SPAD meter readings to infer leaf nitrogen content.
- Employed Bayesian inference to parameterize a C4 leaf photosynthesis model.
- Reconstructed 3D plant architecture and SPAD distribution using neural radiance fields (NeRFs).
- Developed an indoor ray tracing and energy balance model for light distribution and leaf temperature estimation.
Main Results:
- Observed distinct 3D patterns in SPAD values, indicating within-canopy photosynthesis variation.
- Bayesian inference efficiently parameterized the C4 model, with good correlation between parameter values and SPAD readings.
- NeRF provided more accurate 3D reconstruction and SPAD distribution estimation compared to traditional methods.
- Calculated leaf temperatures closely matched measured values.
Conclusions:
- The developed pipeline accurately captures 3D heterogeneity in maize canopy photosynthesis.
- Ignoring 3D SPAD heterogeneity can alter simulated canopy photosynthetic rates by 1-8%.
- Ignoring leaf temperature heterogeneity significantly impacts simulated rates, especially at higher temperatures (up to 38%).
- The pipeline is suitable for high-throughput phenotyping, genetic studies, and ideotype design for enhanced canopy photosynthesis.
