Modelling and simulation for production planning in photo autotrophic micropropagation

Abstract

The seasonal market regulates transplant production planning. The number of transplants produced should meet the constraints of narrow market windows. Transplant production via micropropagation generally involves many subcultures and transitions of stages. Therefore, production planning to meet the demand becomes sometimes challenging. Rough estimation of production easily creates overproduction or underproduction. Use of modelling and simulation techniques for optimizing production planning is an important area where such techniques can be used effectively. Simulating production based on mathematical models is also effective for decision making to select proper environmental conditions and production methods. Photoautotrophic micropropagation is considered to be well adapted to modelling and simulation of number of plants produced, since plant growth and development rates in photoautotrophic micropropagation are more predictable than conventional photomixotrophic culture and they can be manipulated by controlling environmental conditions. © 2005 Springer. All Rights Reserved.