RHIZO Tron, image analysis system to analyze minirhizotron images or manually measure scanned roots
RHIZO Tron


WinRHIZO TRON

For Rhizotron and in soil root analysis.

In WinRHIZO Tron & WinRHIZO Tron MF you can measure
roots interactively and easily
WinRHIZO Tron & Tron MF are manual root measurement programs that allow you to analyse images coming from minirhizotron underground video camera systems or other sources that do not always offer a good contrast between roots and their background.

The main difference between the two Tron versions:

  • WinRHIZO Tron analyses one frame at a time;
  • WinRHIZO Tron MF analyses multiple frames simultaneously (MF=Multiple Frames).
FEATURES OF BOTH VERSIONS
In order to measure roots with WinRHIZO Tron & Tron MF you must manually trace them with the mouse over the image. As you trace roots to indicate their presence, WinRHIZO Tron & Tron MF measure them and display complete morphological information on screen. Any root segment or node can be modified (moved, re sized, deleted or added) by clicking the mouse orpressing keyboard keys. As you modify the roots, morphological measurements and data in files are automatically updated.

The distribution of root length, area, volume or number of tips is displayed as a function of diameter in a graphic above the image. The color classes are the same as those used to draw the roots in the image. WinRHIZO Tron & Tron MF measure the real root diameter distribution rather than the average diameter as some other programs do. If a root segment encompasses three diameter classes, for example, the root length will be distributed among those three classes rather than only in the average class.
WinRHIZO Tron for minirhizotron and in soil root analysis
 Unlike some programs that displays images at a fixed resolution, you can scroll and zoom in on some parts of an image or zoom out to view larger areas. WinRHIZO Tron for minirhizotron and in soil root analysis
An analyzed root is made of segments delimited by nodes (nodes correspond to the clicked positions). The root color can be function of:
segment diameter
WinRHIZO Tron for minirhizotron and in soil root analysis
living status (live, dead, gone)
WinRHIZO Tron for minirhizotron and in soil root analysis
Root diameter can be shown with circles at nodes as illustrated above or
lateral lines along the root edge
WinRHIZO Tron for minirhizotron and in soil root analysis
no display at all
WinRHIZO Tron for minirhizotron and in soil root analysis
MEASUREMENTS
WinRHIZO Tron & Tron MF compute the folowing morphological measurements for traced roots:
      • Root length,
      • Average diameter,
      • Projected area,
      • Surface area,
      • Root volume.
      • Number of classes and
      • Number of tips per diameter class.

These measurements are calculated for each root and root segments. Total values for all roots are also available. These measurements are summarized on screen and detailed data are available in data files.

You can choose which information is displayed and how it is presented (content, text size and color). Each analyzed frame has its name written in its upper left corner, over the image. You can also select which of the following morphological information you would like displayed in the command area:


Total root measurements (for the whole image).
(Root length, surface area, projected area, volume, average diameter and number of tips).


Image information automatically extracted from file name using the ICAP naming scheme (Experiment, Tube, Location, Session, Date, Time and Data Gatherer)



Active root name (Ex: R1) and its measurements data (length, surface area...).





Active segment number and its measurements data (length, surface area).

 WinRHIZO Tron for minirhizotron and in soil root analysis WinRHIZO Tron for minirhizotron and in soil root analysisThe distribution of the morphological measurements as a function of root diameter is visible in the graphic above the image.
DETAILS THAT MAKE YOUR WORK MORE EFFICIENT
  • It has the possibility of automatically retrieving the analysis of an image taken at the same location (same tube and same experiment) but at an earlier time. This allows you add to the previous analysis rather than beginning from scratch. The idea is based on the fact that the previously measured root(s) should still be present and the only thing required to measure in the new image are the changes (new or dead roots) since the last time. Once the analysis is superposed over the current image, you can extend the roots to account for new growth or delete segments that are no longer present.
WinRHIZO Tron for minirhizotron and in soil root analysis
Image acquired at session #X with its analysis shown over it.
WinRHIZO Tron for minirhizotron and in soil root analysis
Analysis of previous image in time superimposed over current image.

Image acquired at session #X+1 (one session after the left image) with the analysis of the image acquired at session #X (left image) shown over it.
WinRHIZO Tron for minirhizotron and in soil root analysis
Current image with updated analysis.
  • Root and segment naming can be done individually (you enter the name you want) or it can be done automatically (you enter the beginning of a fixed name and RHIZO appends it a number which is augmented for each subsequent root.
  • When you load an image that has the ICAP naming scheme, RHIZO automatically extracts the parameters that will be used to identify the sample (tube #, location #, date...) from the file name. The ICAP naming system is used by Bartz Technology Mini-Rhizotron image acquisition systems.
OTHER FEATURES
  • You can shift the position of a single root or all the roots in an analyses region (useful to align a prior analysis over a new image).
  • The original images are never modified. The analysis is displayed over them.
  • RHIZO comes with a printed color manual with plenty of illustrations.
  • RHIZO is updated regularly (one or two updates per year).
  • When you purchase the Tron version, you can get a discount to acquire WinRHIZO Reg or Pro for automatic measurement of washed roots. The Pro version can be used for extensive morphological measurements including topology, fractals and color analysis. both programs share the same look and feel so once you know how to operate one you already know many basic notions for the other.
  • You can change the colors used to display information.
  • You can add notes (comments, observations) to images or roots.
Once an analysis is loaded, RHIZO displays it over the current image. The position of the analysis over the image can be adjusted by pressing some keyboard keys, the roots in the image are shifted in the arrow direction. This allows to compensate for the camera re-positioning errors.
Click here if you want to download the WinRHIZO Tron & Tron MF .pdf brochure (1.5 MB)


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WinRHIZO Tron and WinRHIZO Tron MF are registered trademarks.
Copyright (c) 2001-2008 by Regent Instruments Inc. for entire contents.
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Last Revision: January 23, 2008