Modeling tillering in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) using L-systems

This paper describes current endeavours to model tillering in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) using a three-dimensional approach. This way of modeling, in which the spatial structure of the crop is explicitly described and light interception is calculated at the organ level, enables detailed simulation of leaf and tiller numbers as affected by the light environment. The architectural module is adapted from the ADEL-wheat model, which simulates the architecture of growth and development of winter wheat. The light interception module consists of the nested radiosity model, which is capable of processing 3D information provided by the architectural model, and caribu that acts as an interface. For the architectural module to simulate the morphology of spring wheat, ADEL-wheat will be reparameterised. It appears that various parameters are constant across cultivars, whereas other parameters vary among cultivars. Furthermore, extensions to the model to incorporate assimilate allocation and account for the effects the light environment can have on assimilate allocation are discussed.