Crop Phenotypic Rheology: Theoretical Framework, Dynamical Mechanisms, and the Evolution of Dynamic Crop Phenotypic Science

Abstract

Traditional crop phenotyping relies heavily on static, discrete, point-in-time measurements, a "static snapshot" approach that inherently overlooks the continuous, dynamic response patterns of living crops under fluctuating environmental conditions. This paper proposes "Crop Phenotypic Rheology", a novel interdisciplinary theoretical framework designed to systematically integrate physical rheological concepts—such as stress, strain, viscoelasticity, creep, and stress relaxation—into the spatio-temporal continuous analysis of dynamic crop phenotypes. Crop phenotypic rheology conceptualizes the crop phenotype as a complex non-linear system that continuously undergoes deformation, recovery, or phase transformation in response to time, environmental stress (e.g., drought, heat, nutrient deficit, and mechanical wind stress), and resource availability. We elucidate three fundamental rheological modes—elastic, plastic, and viscoelastic modes—and formulate the environmental stress-phenotypic strain dynamic equations governing continuous phenotypic responses. Furthermore, we explore multi-scale integration mechanisms bridging micro-scale cellular rheology, meso-scale plant posture rheology, and macro-scale canopy rheology. By overcoming the fundamental limitations of static phenotyping, crop phenotypic rheology transitions crop phenotypic research from static structural measurements to a dynamic science focused on deciphering continuous response mechanisms, providing a transformative paradigm and theoretical support for precision breeding, abiotic stress screening, and smart agronomic management.

Plant phenotyping relevance

動的な作物表現型を連続的に解析する新しい理論的フェノタイピング枠組みを提案し、環境ストレス応答の数理モデルとマルチスケール統合を扱うため、方法論が中心である。

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