Architectural analysis of herbaceous crop species:: a comparative study of maize (Zea mays L.) and garden pea (Pisum sativum L.)

Some results of the application of the method of architectural analysis, originally designed for trees, to crop species are reviewed. They are illustrated through a comparison between two species, maize (Zea mays L.) and pea (Pisum sativum L.). It is shown that despite huge apparent differences in physiognomy, similarities in architectural development can be found, and expressed within the framework of architectural analysis. The relevance of these results for architectural modelling, crop ecophysiology and architectural studies is discussed. It is argued that one of the main benefits of an interdisciplinary approach probably is at the inter-specific comparative level, and that it may allow for the development of rather general structure-function architectural models, with a clarification of significant specific traits. ((C) Inra/Elsevier, Paris.).