biostudies-literatureLecarpentier CRegion Ile-de-FranceNational Research Agency961-975https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6589517biostudies-literatureUnknown123(6)<h4>Background and aims</h4>Branching is a main morphogenetic process involved in the adaptation of plants to the environment. In grasses, tillering is divided into three phases: tiller emergence, cessation of tillering and tiller regression. Understanding and prediction of the tillering process is a major challenge to better control cereal yields. In this paper, we present and evaluate WALTer, an individual-based model of wheat built on simple self-adaptive rules for predicting the tillering dynamics at contrasting sowing densities.<h4>Methods</h4>WALTer simulates the three-dimensional (3-D) development of the aerial architecture of winter wheat. Tillering was modelled using two main hypotheses: (H1) a plant ceases to initiate new tillers when a critical Green Area Index (GAIc) is reachedAnnals of botanyWALTer: a three-dimensional wheat model to study competition for light through the prediction of tillering dynamics.PMC658951703-2010/GV-DIM ASTREAANR-13-AGRO-0008Blanc EEnjalbert JAndrieu BLecarpentier CBarillot RAbichou MGoldringer IBarbillon PfalseWALTer: a three-dimensional wheat model to study competition for light through the prediction of tillering dynamics.<h4>Background and aims</h4>Branching is a main morphogenetic process involved in the adaptation of plants to the environment. In grasses, tillering is divided into three phases: tiller emergence, cessation of tillering and tiller regression. Understanding and prediction of the tillering process is a major challenge to better control cereal yields. In this paper, we present and evaluate WALTer, an individual-based model of wheat built on simple self-adaptive rules for predicting the tillering dynamics at contrasting sowing densities.<h4>Methods</h4>WALTer simulates the three-dimensional (3-D) development of the aerial architecture of winter wheat. Tillering was modelled using two main hypotheses: (H1) a plant ceases to initiate new tillers when a critical Green Area Index (GAIc) is reached2019-01-01T00:00:00Z2019 Jun2025-04-05T15:22:29.466Z2020-06-27T07:27:08ZS-EPMC65895173062911310.1093/aob/mcy226