RhizoVision Explorer: open-source software for root image analysis and measurement standardization

Area of Science:

• Plant and Soil Science
• Ecosystem Function
• Agricultural Research

Background:

• Root characteristics are crucial for understanding plant resource acquisition and ecosystem carbon cycling.
• Accurate measurement of root traits like length, diameter, and volume is essential for plant and soil function studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• Introduce RhizoVision Explorer, an open-source software for efficient and reliable root trait analysis.
• Compare the performance of RhizoVision Explorer against existing software (WinRhizo™, IJ_Rhizo) for root trait measurements.

Main Methods:

• Developed RhizoVision Explorer with default (broken roots) and optional (whole root) modes for diverse root sampling.
• Validated software using copper wire image sets, simulated root images, and real-world scanned root images from various species and labs.
• Compared measurements including length, diameter, volume, angles, root depth, and convex hull with other software.

Main Results:

• RhizoVision Explorer demonstrated accurate measurements, validated against ground truth data.
• Commercial WinRhizo™ significantly underestimated root volume, especially with varying wire diameters in the same image.
• General agreement in most measurements between RhizoVision Explorer, WinRhizo™, and IJ_Rhizo, with notable discrepancies in root volume.

Conclusions:

• RhizoVision Explorer offers improved accuracy and replicability for root trait measurements.
• The software aims to become a reference tool in root science, fostering collaboration and data accessibility.
• Addresses limitations in current software, particularly in accurate root volume estimation.