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Color Analysis With The Pro & Arabidopsis Versions
Color analysis allows you to quantify areas of specific colors or groups of colors and to measure root morphology as a function of color. The operator first indicates to WinRHIZO the colors of the objects to be analysed and those of the surrounding background. This is done interactively by clicking the mouse in the image. During the image analysis process, WinRHIZO classifies the colors present in the image into different classes before making the morphological measurements. There are many possible applications for color analysis. Some are given below:
   

 

  
Leaf area meter. Quantification of leaf disease and insect damage.
Measure roots in front of different backgrounds (in a growing pouch for example).
 Root morphology (length, area) in function of color.
Seeds classification
Shoot growth quantification
 Mychorizae quantification (area).
Images from a camera and proper sample preparation required.
Color analysis will work if there are minimal color contrasts between the feature(s) you want to quantify and the surrounding background. To ensure that WinRHIZO meets your needs, please discuss your application with our sales department before purchasing a system.
       
WinRHIZO Arabidopsis
It includes all features and measurements of the Pro version plus:  
  • The ability to differentiate and analyse separately non-touching seedlings, root systems or objects. Each object has its own measurements in addition to global measurements which encompass all the objects analysed in the image (or region of image).
  • It can measure the object’s bounding box width and length which can translate into: 1) plant height and width when the image is a view of the seedling side or 2) leaf (or other object) length and width when seen from above.
  • It can measure the object’s individual area without having to make individual selections (overlapping regions are not detected and touching leaves are analysed as a single object unless the image is edited).
  • It can measure the hypocotyl (leaf) length and area separately from roots (you must click at their junction to start the developmental analysis). Area is less precise than length (± 20%).

Measurements available per object:

  • Number of tips, forks, crossing
  • Link analysis (global average, total and individual link length, diameter,
    area, volume, tips, color).
  • Topology and Developmental analysis
    (Axis, Main & Laterals number and length).
  • Nodules per object (interactive count)
  • Seedlings (objects) counting
  • Area per color class or grou

Measurements not available per object (might be different in future versions), only for the image:

  • Fractals
  • Root distribution histogram data (length, area, volume, tips) in function of diameter
  • Root morphology (length, area...) per color
     
Non-Touching objects are automatically identified and analysed individually (area, length, width, color). They must contrast with their surrounding background.
   
Touching objects and too dense root systems (below) cannot be analysed individually (only total data is available). You can manually trace an outline around each seedling roots to get individual estimates but it will includesome neighboring roots.
When the root system is very dense it might not be possible to track down the main root and differentiate it from the laterals or it can be possible but time consuming (requiring interactive modifications). Also it might not work on all growing media (minimal contrast required) and with all scanners (we strongly recommend those we sell).
Miscellaneous Features
  • User-defined regions of any shape can either be selected for analysis or exclusion from it (Reg, Pro & Arabidopsis versions)
  • Image edition to remove artifacts or image defects. You can pick up and edit with any color present in an image or define your own.
  • Interactive or in batch (without operator supervision) analysis. Note: Not all analyses can be done in batch.
  • Pre-defined analysed regions. They allow to create with a single command, a specified number of equidistant regions at different vertical positions (soil depth) in an image. The size and distance between these analysed regions are specified by the operator. (Reg & Pro)
 Irregularly shaped regions permit separate analysis of roots that are close to each other. Circular regions can be used to analyse roots in petri dishes.
  • You can print and save to a file the images with or without their analysis marks over them.
  • Debris can be removed from the analysis is some circumstances. When they are not in contact with roots they can be filtered out based on their area (anything smaller than a specified area is treated as debris) or on their length/width ratio (debris tend to be round while roots are elongated). Debris can also be filtered out when they have a color contrasting with roots (Pro & Arabidopsis versions only).
  • WinRHIZO comes with prompt and competent technical support made by Regent’s personnel, not by subcontracted firms.
  • WinRHIZO comes with printed color manuals which are abundantly illustrated.

 

Copyright (c) 1996-2012 by Regent Instruments Inc. for entire content. All rights reserved.

Modified October 29, 2009