A Computer Program for Simulating Cambial Activity and Ring Growth

Abstract

This paper describes an interactive computer program which simulates daily cell growth and differentiation in a single radial file of tree cells. The growth processes are controlled by 22 model parameters, half of which are constants, the remainder time-dependent. The program user specifies the constants and the form of the time variations desired. The program computes daily values for the time-dependent parameters, and applies these values to the calculation of cell diameters, cell division, cell wall thickness, and ring width for each day of the growing season. Output is in tabular and graphical form. The tabular listing consists of the cell diameter at each position in the radial file, and for the xylem it also prints cell wall thickness and a relative density for each cell. The graphical output plots cell diameter, wall thickness, and relative density vs. file position. The program was designed primarily as an instructional tool and has been used for this purpose with good results. Because of its flexibility it has potential for research, and some possibilities for such use are discussed.