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. 2020 Jan 23;16:5. doi: 10.1186/s13007-019-0550-5

Table 1.

Root system architecture (RSA) traits captured by ARIA 2.0 software

Trait name Symbol Unit Trait description
Total root length TRL cm Cumulative length of all the roots in centimeters
Primary root length PRL cm Length of the Primary root in centimeters
Lateral root length LRL cm Cumulative length of all lateral roots in centimeters
Mean lateral root length MSL cm Mean length of all lateral roots in centimeters
TRLUpper TRLUpper cm Total root length of the upper one third
TRLLower TRLLower cm Total root length of the lower two third
Perimeter PER cm Total number of network pixels connected to a background pixel
Depth DEP cm The maximum vertical distance reached by the root system
Width WID cm The maximum horizontal width of the whole RSA
Diameter DIA cm Diameter of the primary root
Lateral root branches LRB Count Number of lateral root branches
Nodes of lateral roots NLR Count Number of nodes of lateral roots
Independent root branches IRB Count Number of independent lateral root branches
Lateral root tip RTA Count Number of lateral root tips
Median MED Count The median number of roots at all Y-location
MaximumR MAX Count The maximum number of roots at all Y-location
Maximum number of roots MNR Count The 84th percentile value of the sum of every row
Network area NWA Count The number of pixels that are connected in the skeletonized image
Convex area CVA cm2 The area of the convex hull that encloses the entire root image
RhizoArea RHZO cm2 Length of 2 mm surrounding the TRL
TRArea TRArea cm2 Area of the RSA as observed in the 2D projected view
Primary root surface area PRA cm2 Surface area of the primary root
TRAUpper TRAUpper cm2 Total root area of the upper one third
TRALower TRALower cm2 Total root area of the lower two third
Volume VOL cm3 Volume of the primary root
Lateral root branching angle LBA Angle Lateral root branching angle near the primary root node
Lateral root angles LRA Angle Root angles along the extent of all lateral roots
Lateral root tip angle RTA Angle Root angle at lateral root tips
Width/depth ratio WDR Ratio The ratio of the maximum width to depth
Solidity SOL Ratio The fraction equal to the network area divided by the convex area
Bushiness BSH Ratio The ratio of the maximum to the median number of roots
Length distribution LED Ratio TRLUpper/TRLower
LRL by PRL LSLPL Ratio Number of the Lateral root per unit length of the Primary root
Center of mass COM Ratio Center of gravity of the root/Depth
Center of point COP Ratio Absolute center of the root regardless of root length/Depth
Center of mass (Top) CMT Ratio Center of gravity of the top 1/3 of the root (Top)/Depth
Center of mass (Mid) CMM Ratio Center of gravity of the middle 1/3 root (Middle)/Depth
Center of mass (Bottom) CMB Ratio Center of gravity of the bottom 1/3 root (Bottom)/Depth
Center of point (Top) CPT Ratio Absolute center of the root regardless of root length (Top)/Depth
Center of point (Mid) CPM Ratio Absolute center of the root regardless of length (Middle)/Depth
Center of point (Bottom) CPB Ratio Absolute center of the root regardless of root length (Bottom)/Depth