title: Novel scanning procedure enabling the vectorization of entire rhizotron-grown root systems.
abstract: : This paper presents an original spit-and-combine imaging procedure that enables the complete vectorization of complex root systems grown in rhizotrons. The general principle of the method is to (1) separate the root system into a small number of large pieces to reduce root overlap, (2) scan these pieces one by one, (3) analyze separate images with a root tracing software and (4) combine all tracings into a single vectorized root system. This method generates a rich dataset containing morphological, topological and geometrical information of entire root systems grown in rhizotrons. The utility of the method is illustrated with a detailed architectural analysis of a 20-day old maize root system, coupled with a spatial analysis of water uptake patterns.
authors.affiliation: Earth and Life Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Croix du Sud L7,05,11, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium. xavier.draye@uclouvain.be.
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lobet
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Draye