WinRHIZO is a complete plant root measurement and analysis systems for agricultural and forestry research.

Software

The WinRHIZO program is offered in 4 versions (Basic, Regular, Pro & Arabidopsis). The table below lists and explains the measurements and features offered by each one.

	WinRHIZO Basic		WinRHIZO Reg		WinRHIZO Pro		WinRHIZO Arabidopsis
	WinRHIZO Basic is a low cost entry level version. It produces only global measurements (average root diameter, total root length, area, volume and number of tips).		WinRHIZO Regular has all features of the Basic model plus root morphology measurement as a function of user definable diameter classes. A root (length, area, volume) distribution graphic is automatically generated and is visible above the image.		WinRHIZO Pro has all features of the Regular version plus link, topology, architecture and color analyses. The color analysis can produce root morphology as a function of color. It can also be used as a color area meter.		WinRHIZO Arabidopsis has all features of the Pro version plus the ability to separate and analyse separately individual objects such as seedlings and leaves. It can do multiple root analyses per analysed image or regions of it.

Note : It is possible to upgrade from a low to a high-end version at any time by paying the difference in cost between them.

Morphology Root Measurements
	Basic	Reg	Pro	Arabid
Global (for the whole analysed region)
Total length
Average diameter**
Total Surface and Projected Area, Volume*
Number of tips, forks & crossings
Manual nodules counting (not automatic)
In function of root diameter (per diameter class)
Length
Surface and Projected Area, Volume*
Number of tips
In function of root color (see color analysis below)
Length
Surface and Projected Area, volume
Number of tips
Root Architecture with Fractals Measurements
Root architecture with fractals
Color Analysis
Color Analysis

*WinRHIZO has two total root volume measurements. One, not invented by us and used by many researchers for years, is estimated from root projected area and length (we call it Estimated Volume). The other, our own method invented more than 28 years ago, is calculated from the measured diameter for all pixels along the root (we call it Measured Volume). In the latest version, both are displayed in the Command area and saved in adjacent columns in data files.***

**Similarly, it has two average diameter measurements, one estimated and one measured (the latter added in 2023).

***Users of versions 2019 and older had to compute the total Measured Volume from the root volume per diameter class data (sum them). Note that total Measured Volume is independant of the number and range of the diameter classes.

Link Analysis Measurements
	Basic	Reg	Pro	Arabid
Globally (for the whole image)
Total number of links
Average link length, diameter, area, volume, branching angle
Per link (individually)
Length, average diameter, area, branching angle
Basic connectivity

Topology Measurements
	Basic	Reg	Pro	Arabid
Globally (for the whole image)
External path length
Altitude
Per link (individually)
Magnitude
Path length
Altitude
Structured connectivity

Developmental Classification Measurements
	Basic	Reg	Pro	Arabid
Number of links (per order)
Total length (per order)
Total area (per order)
Average link length (per order)
Average link area (per order)
Average diameter (per link)
Link order (per link)

WinRHIZO Arabidopsis Measurements
	Basic	Reg	Pro	Arabid
Differentiate, count 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).
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 (manual interactive count, not automatic)
Seedlings (objects) counting
Area per color class or group
Note : These measurements are not available per object only for the image
Fractals
Root distribution histogram data (length, area, volume, tips) in function of diameter
Root morphology (length, area,...) per color

Miscellaneous Features
	Basic	Reg	Pro	Arabid
User-defined regions of rectangular shape can either be selected for analysis or excluded from it
User-defined regions of circular and irregular shape can either be selected for analysis or excluded from it
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
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 in 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 based on their color.
WinRHIZO comes with prompt and competent technical support made by Regent’s personnel, not by subcontracted firms.
WinRHIZO comes with printed and pdf color manuals which are abundantly illustrated.

	Image Analysis for Plant Science

Regent Instruments Inc.	since 1991