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Automated measurement of root length with a three-dimensional high-resolution scanner and image analysis

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Abstract

For measuring the length of root samples, the use of a three-dimensional (3D) scanner is proposed to address the problem of a too low resolution. The scanner's high resolution (up to 354 pixels per cm) enables in the resulting grey-value image very thin roots (diameter 100 μm) to be segmented from the background by a simple thresholding operation. After skeletonizing, total length of the roots is calculated by multiplying the number of skeleton pixels by a correction factor. A comparison with the modified Newman Line-Intersect Method showed a correlation of r=0.98. Besides its superior resolution, an advantage of this type of scanner is its focusing depth, which allows root samples to be recorded on the scanbed similarly to a camera-oriented system.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Agrobiological Research (CABO-DLO), P.O. Box 14, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    A. L. Smit & J. Groenwold

  2. Department of Vegetation Science, Plant Ecology and Weed Science, Agricultural University Wageningen, Bornsesteeg 69, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    J. F. C. M. Sprangers

  3. Technical and Physical Engineering Research Service (TFDL-DLO), Wageningen, The Netherlands

    P. W. Sablik

Authors
  1. A. L. Smit
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  2. J. F. C. M. Sprangers
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  3. P. W. Sablik
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  4. J. Groenwold
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Smit, A.L., Sprangers, J.F.C.M., Sablik, P.W. et al. Automated measurement of root length with a three-dimensional high-resolution scanner and image analysis. Plant Soil 158, 145–149 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00007928

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00007928

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