Light partitioning within intercropping systems is mostly modelled by using the turbid medium analogy. Barillot et al. assess this approach by comparing it with a light-projective model based on 3-D plant mock-ups for contrasting grass–legume canopies (wheat–pea, tall fescue–alfalfa, tall fescue–clover). They find that light partitioning is accurately predicted by the turbid medium approach in most [...]

The productivity and stability of grazed grassland rely on dynamic interactions between the sward and the animal. Combes et al. record 3-D canopy structures of swards of white clover (Trifolium repens) using an electromagnetic digitizer and adapted software, and synthesize virtual canopies in order to calculate bite mass of grazing animals and to determine effects on [...]

Genotypic diversity is essential for maintenance of plant species. Van Mölken and Stuefer examine White clover mosaic virus and Trifolium repens and show that the effects of virus infection on plant performance can differ greatly between distinct host genotypes, resulting in changes in relative fitness between virus-infected and control treatments. This suggests that virus infections [...]