Abstract: A simulation model for greenhouse tomato leaf area was developed based on the product of thermal effectiveness and PAR (TEP). Then a process based greenhouse tomato dry matter production simulation model was developed by integrating the greenhouse tomato leaf area simulation model. The model was validated by independent experimental data from Shanghai and Nanjing. The results showed that the model can predict leaf area and total dry weight of greenhouse tomato more accurately than traditional models, which calculates leaf area (LA) with specific leaf area (SLA) and growing degree day (GDD). When using the model based on TEP, the coefficient of determination (R2) and the root mean squared error (RMSE) between simulated and measured leaf area (LA) based on the 1:1 line are 0.9743 and 0.0515 m2·plant-1, respectively. When using the model based on TEP, the R2 and RMSE between simulated and measured total dry weight based on the 1:1 line are 0.9360 and 522.7104 kg·ha-1, respectively. For the prediction of plant total dry weight, the prediction accuracy of TEP based model is 56% and 72%, respectively, higher than that of GDD and SLA based model.

Key words: Greenhouse tomato, Photosynthesis, Leaf area, Dry matter production, Simulation model