OpenGL-based visual technology for wheat morphology

Morphology visualization is one of the key technologies for constructing visual plants. Based on the framework of wheat morphology visualization, the 3D geometric modeling technologies of wheat organs were investigated, and the organ geometrical models were developed with characteristic architecture parameters. The model included three submodels: leaf geometry, stem geometry and wheat spike geometry submodels. The NURBS was used to simulate leaf blade and sheath, and stem geometry submodel was developed by a cylinder. The wheat spike geometry submodel was developed by means of assembling a single organ. The spike axis was simulated with a cylinder, and the spikelet was simulated with an ellipsoid and a cylinder. Based on the platform of OpenGL, the 3D morphology of organs was drawn, and the rendering models of color, texture and light were developed. By further integrating the model of topographic structure of wheat plant and the interaction among individual plants, the wheat 3D morphologies at the organ, individual and population levels were visualized on the computer. These results lay a foundation for further development of visual growth system for the wheat plant.