Image Number K8037-2

Scientists can project a photograph of a plant's root system onto grids of different sizes and count the number of root intersects within each grid. By plotting the logarithm of the number of intersected grids against the logarithm of grid sizes, a line is obtained, the negative slope of which is the fractal dimension. Scientists can use this dimension to spot plant stress.

Photo by Bahman Eghball.

640 pixels wide: (k8037-2.jpg)