Integrating markov chain models and L-systems to simulate the architectural development of apple trees

M. Renton (1) , Evelyne Costes (1) , Christophe Godin (2, 3) , Yann Guédon (2)

1 UMR BEPC - Biologie du développement des espèces pérennes cultivées
2 UMR AMAP - Botanique et Modélisation de l'Architecture des Plantes et des Végétations
3 VIRTUAL PLANTS - Modeling plant morphogenesis at different scales, from genes to phenotype

An approach for modelling and simulating the architectural development of apple trees is presented. The approach is based on using an L-systems framework to integrate a Markov model of terminal bud fate and a number of hidden semi-Markov models of axial bud fate. Results show that these models are able to represent the branching zones observed in apple trees at node scale, simulate the sequences of annual growth units found along branches, and capture important aspects of the bearing pattern. Integrating these models gives a simulation of the development of the whole tree that can be used to evaluate the ability of local-scale models to capture global characteristics

Mots clés: Branching; Growth; Fruit trees; 3D simulation; Hidden semi-markov chain

Domaines: Biologie végétale; Modélisation et simulation; Biodiversité et Ecologie

M. Renton, Evelyne Costes, Christophe Godin, Yann Guédon. Integrating markov chain models and L-systems to simulate the architectural development of apple trees. 7th International Symposium on Computer Modelling in Fruit Research and Orchard,, 2006, France. pp.63-70. ⟨hal-00120798⟩