The processes involved in rice (Oryza sativa L.) panicle ripening vary with time and topological grain position. Methods to describe the functioning and connectivity of the grains on a panicle could aid the analysis of these processes. Hence, we addressed the difficulty of encoding and representing panicle topology. Array-based decomposition and computational methods were developed to encode and analyse panicle topology and grain traits. The technique, applied to the analysis of dry matter accumulation, clearly represented the basipetal succession of asynchronous grain ripening on a panicle. These methods should be useful for the spatial and temporal analysis of a number of panicle processes and attributes, including molecular ones, involved with ripening.
