Estimation of leaf area for agronomic and plant physiological studies.

Abstract

A method based on leaf photographs is described for the estimation of leaf area. The method of preparing the standards is given, and a set of standards covering the full range of leaf form in young plants of the Pearson variety of tomato is presented. The method is rapid and does not damage the experimental plants. With five observers, the method was tested for the presence of bias resulting from fatigue or from variation in leaf size or form. Some of the observers showed personal idiosyncrasies of judgment which did not, however, invalidate the method for comparative studies. Estimates by all observers of leaf area per plant were very highly correlated with estimates based on an independent reference method.