IMPROVED IMAGE-ANALYSIS ALGORITHM FOR THE CHARACTERIZATION OF MYCELIAL AGGREGATES AFTER STAINING

A colour image processing algorithm is presented to identify and measu re morphological features of mycelial aggregates in biomass stained wi th crystal violet to discriminate filamentous regions and compacted co res. The method improves the accuracy and allows automation of the pre vious monochrome procedure (Durant et al., 1994). It has been applied to the characterisation of aggregates from a shake-flask culture of Fo mes fomentarius (Basidiomycete) presenting extended filamentous outer zones. The area of the whole pellet, core, and annular regions of each pellet were measured. The convex area ratio and annular fullness were estimated and means of each samples were calculated.