Home › Cell Biology › Measuring Stolons and Rhizomes of Turfgrasses Using a Digital Image Analysis System
Cell Biology JoVE (Open Access) Citable · DOI

Measuring Stolons and Rhizomes of Turfgrasses Using a Digital Image Analysis System

DOI: 10.3791/58042-v
What you'll learn
  • ✓ Collect and prepare stolon/rhizome samples for digital image analysis
  • ✓ Use software-based image analysis to measure length and diameter
  • ✓ Apply morphological quantification to turfgrass cultivar comparison studies
  • ✓ Process large biomass samples using scalable imaging methodology
Protocol

A software-based image analysis system provides an alternative method to study the morphology of stoloniferous and rhizomatous species. This protocol permits measurement of the length and diameter of stolons and rhizomes and can be applied to samples with a large amount of biomass and to a wide variety of species.

Difficulty
intermediate
Total time
~2–4 hours per sample set (including scanning, image processing, and measurements)
Model organism
Turfgrass species (Bermudagrass cultivars)

Steps

1
Collect and clean stolon and rhizome biomass

Extract stolons and rhizomes from turfgrass samples and remove soil, debris, and organic matter. Prepare samples for subsequent scanning by ensuring clean, visible structures.

▶ 00:35
2
Scan samples and analyze morphology digitally

Use an image analysis system to capture high-resolution scans of cleaned samples, then apply software to quantify length, diameter, and other morphological parameters. Record dry weight measurements for each sample.

▶ 01:56
3
Compare stolon and rhizome traits across cultivars

Analyze morphological measurements across multiple Bermudagrass cultivars in mature turf to demonstrate how the protocol can differentiate phenotypic variation in underground structures.

▶ 04:24
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