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

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.