MODICA and MODANCA: modelling the three-dimensional shoot structure of graminaceous crops from two methods of plant description

This paper describes two models aimed at reconstructing the three-dimensional (3D) structure of graminaceous shoots. One uses digitised data collected with a 3D electromagnetic device (3SPACE FASTRAK, Polhemus). The other uses measurements of three parameters describing position and orientation of laminae at their insertion (ligule height, inclination and azimuth). Both methods consist of two stages: (i) reconstruction of plant skeletons (laminae and stems); (ii) parameterisation of organ surface or volume and reconstruction of the 3D shoot structure of plants and crops. By producing realistic representations of graminaceous shoots. these models are effective tools for assessing the effect of crop structure on radiation interception and, consequently, on plant functioning (e.g. photosynthesis, photomorphogenesis) and crop behaviour. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.