Rootfly is a free, open-source software application to aid researchers in minirhizotron image analysis.  Users can use the software to measure the length, diameter, and color of roots, as well as the birth and death rates.  The software is designed to be easy to use, with a minimal number of mouse clicks needed to perform each operation, and with all the data for an experiment stored in a single RFY file.  Future versions will contain automated image processing algorithms to further reduce the manual intervention required.  Rootfly is released under the GNU General Public License (GPL). 

Screenshot:

Download: 

• Version 2.0 (development version)
  • Version 1.8.35 (13 Nov 2009) -- source code (VC++ 6.0)
    Bug fix:  Session dates were being incorrectly read from filenames -- Thanks to Marie Arndal for finding the bug
    Bug fix:  root lifetimes were being incorrectly computed from session dates -- Thanks to John Peterson for finding the bug
  • Version 1.8.34 (19 Oct 2009) -- source code (VC++ 6.0)
    Edit.Copy now allows user to copy just a single root.
  • Version 1.8.33 (25 Sep 2009) -- source code (VC++ 6.0)
    Bug fix:  Files not containing a session/window number in the filename will now get a default session/window number assigned to them.
    (Note:  1.8.33 incorrectly states version 1.8.32 in Help.About, although it correctly states 1.8.33 in file properties)
  • Version 1.8.32 (28 Aug 2009) -- source code (VC++ 6.0)
    Bug fix: 'Delete Point' now works again
    Internal bug fix:  empty condition code
  • Version 1.8.31 (17 June 2009) -- source code (VC++ 6.0)
    Bug fix: application was crashing on right button down
    Now warning user when save fails
    Turned debug logging on during save
    Bug fix: arrow buttons in progress window were being disabled incorrectly; now they are always enabled
    Compiled using MFC in static lib
  • Version 1.8.30 (3 June 2009) -- source code (VC++ 6.0)
    Bug fix: root ids are one-based indices (some functions were creating roots with id 0)
    New bitmaps for zoom buttons
    Turned off autosave functionality
    Help.DebugDisplayRootData now shows all roots in tube
  • Version 1.8.29 (20 May 2009) -- source code (VC++ 6.0)
    Bug fix: no longer writing empty condition codes; new zoom icons
  • Version 1.8.28 (17 Mar 2009) -- source code (VC++ 6.0)
    Annotate button; now compiles using Visual Studio 2008; new cursor for root drawing;
  • Version 1.8.27 (05 Nov 2008) -- source code (VC++ 6.0)
    Simplified interface for CopySession
    Fixed bug:  File.Export was only writing the last tube -- Thanks to John Peterson for finding the bug
    Fixed bug:  diameter in exported file was off by factor of two -- Thanks to Luis Valenzuela for finding the bug
    Fixed bug:  CFileFind was being used incorrectly, thus ignoring the last image of the directory
  • Version 1.8.26 (19 June 2008) -- source code (VC++ 6.0)
    Fixed bug that prevented roots from being displayed in the final window of a tube -- Thanks to John McIntyre for finding the bug; also made minor changes to root detection code
  • Version 1.8.25 (06 May 2008) -- source code (VC++ 6.0)
    Installer; New file version; note that 1.8.25 and later will not open files created by 1.8.18 through 1.8.24; see authors if conversion is necessary
  • Version 1.8.24 (25 Apr 2008) -- source code (VC++ 6.0)
    Autodetect, progress window, zoom
  • Version 1.8.23 (17 Apr 2008) -- source code (VC++ 6.0)
    Internal restructuring
  • Version 1.8.22 (03 Apr 2008) -- source code (VC++ 6.0)
    Fixed more drawing bugs
  • Version 1.8.21 (27 Feb 2008) -- source code (VC++ 6.0)
    Fixed several drawing bugs; now able to move a single root
  • Version 1.8.20 (17 Oct 2007)
    Fixed bug that was causing File.Save to crash when writing session dates -- Thanks to Kevin Kosola for finding the bug
  • Version 1.8.19 (13 Aug 2007)
  • Version 1.8.18 (16 Jul 2007) -- source code (VC++ 6.0)
• Version 1.0
  • Version 1.0.4 (29 Mar 2007) -- source code (VC++ 6.0)
    'Copy session' dialog box now gives user the option of copying only the current tube and window -- Thanks to Kelby Fite for pointing out the confusion with the previous behavior; also fixed some missing keyboard shortcuts ('copy from previous' and 'copy session')
  • Version 1.0.3 (26 Feb 2007) -- source code (VC++ 6.0)
    Fixed bug:  Now uses Bartz filename to determine the session number -- Thanks to Kelby Fite for finding the bug
  • Version 1.0.2 (27 Oct 2006)
    Fixed bug:  Now experiments can span multiple years -- Thanks to Alex Gershenson for finding the bug
  • Version 1.0.1 (3 Oct 2006)
    Fixed bug in reading directories with spaces
  • Version 1.0 (22 June 2006) -- source code (VC++ 6.0)

On-line help

Project coordinators:

• Christina E. Wells, Horticulture Department, Clemson University
• Stanley T. Birchfield, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Clemson University

Development:  https://sourceforge.net/projects/rootfly/