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A computer program for characterizing root system branching patterns

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Abstract

A computer program is presented which measures the length, branching patterns and distribution of link length within a root system. The program skeletonizes digitized images of root systems, loads these images into a binary tree data structure and uses this data structure to characterize the root systems. Measurements of the root length and topological parameters of root systems of Senecio vulgaris made by hand and by computer program were linearly related, with r2 values greater than 0.99 in all cases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, 16 Divinity Avenue, 02138, Cambridge, MA, USA

    G. M. Berntson

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  1. G. M. Berntson
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Berntson, G.M. A computer program for characterizing root system branching patterns. Plant Soil 140, 145–149 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00012816

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00012816

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