RootGraph

We present a novel, fully automated and robust approach for the detailed characterization of plant root traits, based on a graph optimization process. The scheme, firstly, distinguishes primary roots from lateral roots and, secondly, quantifies a broad spectrum of root traits for each identified primary and lateral root. Thirdly, it associates lateral roots and their properties with the specific primary root from which the laterals emerge. The performance of this approach was evaluated through comparisons with other automated and semi-automated software solutions as well as against results based on manual measurements.

Please cite: Cai, Jinhai and Zeng, Zhanghui and Connor, Jason N. and Huang, Chun Yuan and Melino, Vanessa and Kumar, Pankaj and Miklavcic, Stanley J. (2015), "RootGraph: a graphic optimization tool for automated image analysis of plant roots" Journal of Experimental Botany, 66(21), pp.6551-6562.