Computational tools that allow in silico analysis of the role of cell growth and division on photosynthesis are scarce. We present a freely available tool that combines a virtual leaf tissue generator and a two-dimensional microscale model of gas transport during C3 photosynthesis. A total of 270 mesophyll geometries were generated with varying degrees of growth anisotropy, growth extent, and extent of schizogenous airspace formation in the palisade mesophyll. The anatomical properties of the virtual leaf tissue and microscopic cross-sections of actual leaf tissue of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) were statistically compared. Model equations for transport of CO2 in the liquid phase of the leaf tissue were discretized over the geometries. The virtual leaf tissue generator produced a leaf anatomy of tomato that was statistically similar to real tomato leaf tissue. The response of photosynthesis to intercellular CO2 predicted by a model that used the virtual leaf tissue geometry compared well with measured values. The results indicate that the light-saturated rate of photosynthesis was influenced by interactive effects of extent and directionality of cell growth and degree of airspace formation through the exposed surface of mesophyll per leaf area. The tool could be used further in investigations of improving photosynthesis and gas exchange in relation to cell growth and leaf anatomy.

中文翻译：

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使用虚拟叶片组织生成器与微型光合作用气体交换模型耦合，对细胞生长因子在光合作用中的作用进行计算机研究。

缺乏计算机分析细胞生长和分裂在光合作用中作用的计算工具。我们提出了一个免费提供的工具，该工具结合了虚拟叶片组织发生器和C3光合作用中气体传输的二维微观模型。总共产生了270个叶肉几何体，其栅栏叶肉中具有不同程度的生长各向异性，生长程度和精神分裂性空域形成程度。统计上比较了番茄（Solanum lycopersicum L.）的虚拟叶片组织的解剖特性和实际叶片组织的微观截面。在几何形状上离散了叶组织液相中CO 2传输的模型方程。虚拟叶片组织生成器产生的番茄叶片解剖结构在统计上与真实的番茄叶片组织相似。由使用虚拟叶片组织几何形状的模型预测的光合作用对细胞间CO2的响应与测量值进行了比较。结果表明，光合作用的光饱和速率受到细胞生长的程度和方向性以及每叶面积通过叶肉暴露表面的空域形成程度的相互作用的影响。该工具可进一步用于改善与细胞生长和叶片解剖结构有关的光合作用和气体交换的研究。结果表明，光合作用的光饱和速率受到细胞生长的程度和方向性以及每叶面积通过叶肉暴露表面的空域形成程度的相互作用的影响。该工具可进一步用于改善与细胞生长和叶片解剖有关的光合作用和气体交换的研究。结果表明，光合作用的光饱和速率受到细胞生长的程度和方向性以及每叶面积通过叶肉暴露表面的空域形成程度的相互作用的影响。该工具可进一步用于改善与细胞生长和叶片解剖结构有关的光合作用和气体交换的研究。