Perspective: Computational Modeling of Auxin: A Foundation for Plant Engineering

Auxins are a class of phytohormones that regulate many aspects of plant development. Morales-Tapia and Cruz-Ramírez review the current status of the available auxin-driven computational models and discuss plausible integration of these into a single model for plant development. Computational modeling of auxin through a single, unified model would enable predictions of plant behavior under diverse physical and biochemical constraints. However, the development of a single model is complicated, because different models incorporate different aspects of auxin function and behaviour including transport, formation of maxima and minima, canalization and cross-talk. Furthermore, different models are built on different platforms. The authors conclude, “Due to its complexity, a model of this nature would have to come from a large collaborative effort among the interested scientific community.” (Summary by Bhavisha Sheth) Frontiers Plant Sci. 10.3389/fpls.2016.01881