Work

A Game Engine-based Simulator for Plant Circadian Clock Responses to Multiple Environmental Factors

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The application of circadian clock technology to agriculture (“Chronoculture”) is gaining attention. The circadian clock responds to environmental stimuli and the response is represented by a phase response curve (PRC). When multiple inputs, such as light and temperature, are applied, the combined PRC becomes more complex, particularly when there is a time lag between the stimuli. This response arises from the clock cells that function as coupled oscillator systems. To analyze these dynamic and complex interactions, we developed a simulator using the Unity game engine to model the environmental stimulus response of a population of circadian clock cells. We introduce the Condensed Unit of Biological Environment (CUBE), a digital object that represents complex environmental inputs. Using CUBE in the simulation, we analyzed the synchronization response of oscillators in a minimal plant model represented as a phytomer. Applying CUBE could alter oscillator synchronization. Pre-constructed CUBEs could locally form distinct spatiotemporal patterns corresponding to each CUBE. This Unity based simulator offers real-time visualization and a new spatiotemporal analysis method to ensure the reproducibility of complex biological environments.

Source: Environment Control in Biology

DOI: 10.2525/ecb.64.67

Authors: Ryota YAGI, Naoki AOYAMA, Hirokazu FUKUDA

Institution: Osaka Metropolitan University

Language: English

Topic: Circadian rhythm and melatonin

Subfield: Endocrine and Autonomic Systems

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: diamond

Funder: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

Awards: G1204499384, 3D Modeling of Plants by Human-Collaborative Robots and Multi-Scale VR Manipulation, G2135868886, Plant growth instability originated from disturbance of circadian rhythm and optimization of nonparametric cultivation environment