Basic concepts of computer simulation of plant growth.

The experimental study of plant growth and architecture requires two consecutive and complementary approaches. The first one is qualitative and botanical. Through this qualitative analysis, it is possible to divide a tree into botanically homogeneous subunits. The second one is quantitative. Modeling of the functioning of meristems based on stochastic processes has been carried out in the Laboratoire de Modelisation of CIRAD (1980 1990) in combination with extensive experimental work on temperate and tropical plants. Calculations involved in the tree simulations from field data are based on the probabilistic Monte Carlo method for the topological part and on analytical geometry for the morphological part. Data, such as length, angles, elasticities, tropism, are necessary for geometric construction of the plant. The growth model, together with the geometric calculations enables a random plant simulation in 3-D according to geometry for the morphological one. Computer graphics methods are then used to visualize the computed plant (perspective, colours, texture, shadows); they require special programs and graphic computers.