VSI UHD Minirhizotron camera systems and accessories are key tools to non-destructively study root and mycorrhizal dynamics and related ecosystem processes in situ. Capture non-distructive UHD images of living roots, mycorrhizal hyphae and soil fauna. Monitor the rhizosphere and in specific root and hyphae development over the course of a day, the cropping cycle, or multiple seasons with reliable VSI Minirhizotron camera systems!
MS-190 - UHD Minirhizotron Camera. Manual, classical Minirhizotron System for narrow to wide MR tubes installed at any angle. Reliable Indexing System. For Pot, Mesocosms and Field Studies.
AC-19 - Semi-automatic Minirhizotron Camera. Camera system for horizontal tubes as frequently installed in rhizotron facilities. Independent imaging on a gear rack and automatic tube registration allows one operator to run several AC-19 in parallel.
AC-21 - Automatic Minirhizotron Camera. Fully automated camera system for vertical and angled root observation tubes. Designed for permanent field or greenhouse installation and 24/7 or regularly scheduled imaging campaigns. Sets of cameras available at a reduced price for replicated experiments
Minirhizotron Tubes. MR observation tubes of various diameters. Refinements (end caps, light shield, positioning hole/drill jig, etc.) for minirhizotron tubes.
Minirhizotron Tube Corer. A manual soil coring system with a smaller diameter than the MR Tubes, which ensures a tight installation of the tubes.
The Vienna Scientific minirhizotron cameras are available as fixed diameter systems for root observation tubes of 5-10 cm of inner diameter (2 inch being the fomer "Bartz" standard = narrow gauge) – allowing for continued use of available minirhizotron tubes and to easily upgrade older / scanner-based imaging systems. Imaging systems for non-standard tube diameters can be realised upon request.
The imaging process can be (semi-)automatised including tube recognition (AC-19) in rhizotron facilities, and fully automatic, continouus imaging of pre-set locations under field conditions (AC-21). Classical positioning systems with manual indexing ("Smucker handle") but advanced rotational positioning are available (MS-190). In any case, precision in terms of imaging quality and repeatability of imaging locations is key. All imaging systems allow to capture Full HD / UHD images of selected areas (at the tube surface), easily allowing to adapt the monitored minirhizotron tube surface to research needs. Image size allows to align root length observations from MR-Ts e.g. to biomass sampling depth (e.g. 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm, ...) without recutting images. Imaging a depth gradient at a time, on predefined sides of the MR-T, is recommended when using angled MR-Ts - allowing for more accurate soil depth determination then other root imager systems on the market. The VSI minirhizotron imaging systems are either programmed and operated by a tablet or a laptop (Windows OS, dedicated Bartz ICAP or MR Editor software). Devices are powered by internal batteries (MS-190, AC-19), external 24 V batteries (AC-21) and/or power line (110-230V; MS-190, AC-21). Image naming follows the ICAP-scheme to be compatible with image analyses software world-wide (see below).
MR systems are based on transparent root observation tubes (MR-T) that are inserted tightly into the soil with MR soil corers of a dedicated, smaller diameter. A minirhizotron imaging device is then inserted into the tube to take images of (regrown) roots and the rhizosphere (incl. soil fauna and hypae) as seen through the MR tube walls. The images are recorded and processed by a control unit for later analyses. Various free and commercial analysis programms have been developed for MR Images. Newer approaches heavily rely on Machine larning based for fast root segmentation in the heterogeneious soil environment.
Observing the development of root systems is key to understand plant performance in natural and production ecosystems (trees and crops), and i.a. an important mean to unravel water, carbon and nutrient dynamics of terrestrial ecosystems. Non-destructive imaging of roots and the rhizosphere can be used to determine a wide range of parameters (under controlled or abiotic and biotic stress conditions, in situ or the greenhouse), including root system development, observation of root growth and turnover patterns, root distribution per depth (root system architecture, RSA), occurrence of mycorrhizal root tips and hyphal development, rhizobia development, and observations of soil fauna.
Minirhizotron imaging cameras thus have a wide range of applications in the study of plant roots, mycorrhizal hyphae, belowground pests such as Orobanche and other biotic and abiotic interactions within the hidden half of ecosystems. Ecosystems to apply MR systems range from managed systems auch as agricultural lands and forests, to pristine ecosystems, to studies in mesocosms and pots under controlled conditions (greenhouse, growth chambers). Some potential applications of minirhizotron root imaging cameras include:
Overall, the potential applications of in situ root imagers are diverse and far-reaching, making them a highly valuable tool for researchers, breeders and agronomists interested in gathering information about root systems and their interactions with the soil / soil organisms under real growing conditions. Contact Vienna Scientific to dicuss your application, and how VSI root imaging systems can facilitate data collection.
Visit the great Plant Image Analysis webpage of G. Lobet for a comprehensive list of image analysis software tools.
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