Realistic image synthesis of plant structures for genetic analysis

The objective of this study was to develop a systematic method to restore i mages of plants using a small number of parameters in order to facilitate i nvestigation of genetic behaviour of branching patterns by computer models. Based on biological data, a generic methodology for image synthesis of pla nt structures was proposed. The corresponding algorithms for feature extrac ting and tuning were designed. Images of plant structures were synthesised with a higher accuracy by a model that was constructed using parametric L-s ystems. The algorithms were validated by comparing the synthetic images wit h the real plants. The approach makes it possible to assess the virtual arc hitectures of plants by computer models, instead of real experiments, and t o investigate the relationship between plant morphology and their genetic b ehaviours. This may aid the understanding of complex branching patterns tha t result from a plant's genetic behaviour. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. A ll rights reserved.