Physiotyping of Plants and Modeling the Soil Plant Atmospheric Continuum (SPAC)

This chapter presents a holistic and quantitative approach to the carbon cycle in plant systems biology. It includes (rapid) phenotyping and monitoring of physiological key interactions of plants with its respective soil and atmospheric environment (soil plant atmospheric continuum—SPAC). The approach aims at qualifying and quantifying key components of this microhabitat as influenced by a single plant or a local group of plants in order to contribute to a flux-based modelling approach. The toolset consists of plant biometry, gas exchange, metabolomics, ionomics, root exudate characterization as well as soil biological and physical–chemical characterization. The results are presented as a basic interaction and input–output model aka conceptual system model employing H. T. Odum-style plots based on empirical data.