Interactions between Diffuse Light and Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Canopy Structure, Simulations of Light Interception in Virtual Canopies

Plant photosynthesis and biomass production are associated with the amount of intercepted light, especially light distribution inside canopy. Three virtual canopies (n = 80, 3.25 plants/m2) were constructed based on average leaf size digitized plant structures: ‘small leaf’ (98.1 cm2), ‘medium (163.0 cm2) ‘big (241.6 cm2). The ratios diffuse set in three gradients (27.8%, 48.7%, 89.6%). simulations interception conducted under different before after normalization incident radiation. With 226.1% more result could increase by 34.4%. However, 56.8% reduced radiation caused increased proportion inhibited advantage terms a 26.8% reduction interception. big-leaf canopy had mutual shading effects, but its larger area 56.2% than small-leaf same conditions. showed higher efficiency penetration per unit area. study implied 3D structural model, an effective tool for quantitative analysis interaction between structure.