Photosynthesis in silico

Photosynthesis in silico: Understanding Complexity from Molecules to Ecosystems is a unique book that aims to show an integrated approach to the understanding of photosynthesis processes. In this volume - using mathematical modeling - processes are described from the biophysics of the interaction of light with pigment systems to the mutual interaction of individual plants and other organisms in canopies and large ecosystems, up to the global ecosystem issues. Chapters are written by 44 international authorities from 15 countries. Mathematics is a powerful tool for quantitative analysis. Properly programmed, contemporary computers are able to mimic complicated processes in living cells, leaves, canopies and ecosystems. These simulations - mathematical models - help us predict the photosynthetic responses of modeled systems under various combinations of environmental conditions, potentially occurring in nature, e.g., the responses of plant canopies to globally increasing temperature and atmospheric CO₂ concentration. Tremendous analytical power is needed to understand nature's infinite complexity at every level.

From the reviews:

“This collection of review chapters achieves its aims extremely well, helping to summarize and collate the literature … . This large and important book achieves the aims inherent in the title … . I … recommend that this book is widely used by all who aspire to understand quantification of photosynthesis at the cell, tissue and organ scale.” (David Lawlor, Annals of Botany, Vol. 105 (4), April, 2010)

“The book with a typical white cover comprises in a form of reviews the most important regions of the model applications in photosynthesis. … The book will be more easily understandable for people with mathematical and physical background … . This book is of basic importance for people in photosynthesis research. … The book is of importance not only to biophysicists a biochemists of photosynthesis but even more to plant physiologists and ecophysiologists who are using chlorophyll fluorescence and gas exchange measurements nearly every day.”  (J. Nauš, Photosynthetica, Vol. 47 (7), 2009)

“The 20 chapters written by 44 scientists from 15 countries are full of basic and detailed information illustrated with diagrams … . this unique and challenging book can be recommended for postgraduates and researchers in plant physiology, functional plant biology, plant biochemistry, plant biophysics and systems biology. It is certainly also valuable for scientists involved in remote sensing and would be a useful resource for computer scientists trying to mimic the complicated processes of nature.” (Claus Buschmann, Journal of Plant Physiology, Vol. 167, 2010)

“A new comprehensive Volume 29 of the encyclopedic series ‘Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration’ … was prepared by professionals for professionals. An international editorial team of this volume … made a good job to represent the most impressive advances in modern understanding of photosynthesis in the form of integrated quantitativemodels elaborated by leading scientists from 15 countries worldwide. … Thus, this volume contains a wealth of information on modern concepts in photosynthesis and is likely to become an excellent handbook.”­­­ (P. Yu. Voronin, Russian Journal of Plant Physiology, Vol. 57 (5), 2010)

“A comprehensive overview of the current status of mathematical and computational approaches in photosynthesis related research. … a valuable contribution to the field and contributes an important resource for students and researchers in plant biology … . We recommend this book to all the major laboratories in the World engaged in both basic and applied aspects of photosynthesis. We expect that libraries at all major universities and research institutes would acquire a copy of this important book for their graduate and postgraduate students … .”­­­ (Dmitriy Shevela, Johannes Messinger and Donald R. Ort, Photosynthesis Research, Vol. 103, 2010)