ABSTRACT
In this study, a simple method for measuring the growth of hairy roots by image analysis has been developed. Hairy roots have attracted researchers' attention because of their content of plant tissue for the production of ample, valuable metabolites in bio-reactors and for use in plant breeding. The authors have constructed a computer vision system which can acquire distinct images of hairy roots under growth in an Erlenmeyer flask, and a recommendable morphological index for estimating the root growth is discussed. The results showed that the area of projection was sufficient to estimate the fresh weight of hairy roots under invitro culture, that the lag phase and logarithmic growth phase could be estimated from the image of the root grown for 4 weeks, and that the growing process of hairy roots can be quantitatively represented by a determined growth equation.HomePageKeywords: hairy root, growth monitoring, image analysis, projection area, liquid culture