How to describe plant architecture? Definition of quantitative indices and applicationto rice plants

Plant architecture is an important agronomic trait, and improving plant architecture has attracted the attentions of scientists for decades, particularly studies to create desirable plant architecture of high grain yield through breed and culture practice. However, many important structural phenotypic traits still lack quantitative description and modeling on structural-functional relativity. This study defined new architecture indices derived from digitalized plant architecture and evaluated the variability of these indices among varieties and crop management. Based on those architecture indices, a prediction functions were developed to predict the biomass accumulation. Using these functions, the plant architecture indices can be derived for improving breeding and agronomic management.