ARS | Publication request: A SIMPLE MECHANISTIC MODEL FOR PREDICTING COTTON SEEDLING EMERGENCE BASED ON THERMAL DEPENDENCE OF MALATE SYNTHASE KINETICS

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: February 25, 2006
Publication Date: February 27, 2006
Citation: Gitz, D.C., Mahan, J.R. 2006. A simple mechanistic model for predicting cotton seedling emergence based on thermal dependence of malate synthase kinetics[abstract]. American Society of Agronomy Southern Regional Branch Meeting. Orlando, Florida. February 5-7, 2006.

Technical Abstract: Delayed emergence is often related to non-optimal temperatures and leads to diminished plant performance later in the season. Improvement of crop performance requires knowledge of the source, pattern and magnitude of thermal limitations on seedling metabolism. The thermal dependence of malate synthase, an enzyme involved in cotton seedling lipid metabolism, was used to define the pattern and magnitude of thermal limitations and as the basis of a novel metabolic modeling approach to predict emergence under variable temperatures in the field. The resulting model was in close agreement with that of field plantings and a widely used degree-day based model.