Figure 4.

Modeling the lodging angle of different tef genotypes. (A) A simple finite element model was constructed, where each internode had the length, mass and elasticity. Gravity was applied to the model, and the base was prevented from moving or rotation. The stress was highest in the lower internodes one and two and lower in the higher internodes three to six. (B) The initial angle of the model was set to the angle of the immature stem before the flower emerges. The final angle that the model obtained under the force of gravity was measured (Model), and compared to the measured angles from the flowering stems (Data). The panicle angle of all genotypes was changed to be that of Gommadie (Improved). This led to an improvement of the lodging of all genotypes especially Dukem and Quncho. (C) The safety factor was compared for the genotypes using the lodging angle as extracted from the data, the model and using the improved model using the Gommadie panicle angle.