Non-destructive models to estimate leaf area on bell pepper crop

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The leaf area determination are extremely important in agronomic and physiological studies, as they provide valuable information in vegetable metabolism, methods used for this purpose should be accurate. This study aimed to develop polynomial models to estimate leaf area (LA). The methods used were leaf discs and ImageJ(r) software, with measures of length (L), width (W), and relationship between length times width (LW) in leaves of the bell pepper crop in two field trials with two hybrids: Arcade and Impacto, as well as, the correlation of values found when using the two methods. Through a random sampling, 560 leaves from each hybrid were selected, at different stages of crop growth. Regression analysis of LA versus measures L, W and LW were performed by linear and quadratic models. The variable that best estimated LA was the relationship between LW with linear model (r2=0.98). Measurements of length and width of leaves presented adjustment to quadratic model r2=0.93 and r2=0.91, respectively. The integrator model for all samples and both hybrids was: LA=0.57×LW. The destructive method of leaf discs showed high correlation (r2=0.99) with the non-destructive method of ImageJ(r) software.