Modelling the Role of Inter-cellular Communication in Modulating Photosynthesis in Plants

Abstract: In this paper we show how inter-cellular molecular communication may change the overall levels of photosynthesis in plants. Individual plant cells respond to external stimuli, such as illumination levels, to regulate their photosynthetic output. Here, we present a mathematical model which shows that by sharing information internally using molecular communication, plants may increase overall photosynthate production. Numerical results show that higher mutual information between cells corresponds to an increase in overall photosynthesis by as much as 25 per cent. This suggests that molecular communication plays a vital role in maximising the photosynthesis in plants and therefore suggests new routes to influence plant development in agriculture and elsewhere.