Abstract
Temperature is a principal environmental factor that directly affects the growth and timing of appearance for crop leaves. To estimate the leaf number and leaf area of ‘Seoul’ pak-choi plants (Brassica campestns ssp.chinensis), we applied the concept of growing degree-days GDD=(Tavg-Tbase) × days, where Tavg, Tbase and days were the daily average air temperature, base temperature, and days after transplanting, respectively. Leaves that were beginning to unfold with a leaf area ≥1 cm2 were counted every 2 to 3 d. Linear relationships were found between leaf number and days after transplanting as well as between leaf number and GDD. The rate of appearance and the number of leaves per GDD were 0.542 leaves d-1 and 0.051 leaves oC-1 d-1, respectively. In contrast, the relationship was non-linear between leaf number and leaf area, with the latter being calculated as [(128.9+11.6×GDD-0.03×GDD2)/1+(0.051×GDD+3.5) /13.7)-3.9] (cm2oC1 d-1). Using model validation, we found that the estimated leaf number and leaf area showed strong agreement with measured values. our results demonstrate the usefulness of modeling to estimate total leaf area and growth from hydroponically grown pak-choi plants.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Baker JT, Pinter PJ Jr.,Reginato RJ, Kanemasu ET (1986) Effects of temperature on leaf appearance in spring and winter wheat cultivars. Agron J78: 605–613
Dwyer LM, Stewart DW (1986) Leaf area development in field-grown maize. Agron J78: 334–343
Faust JE, Heins RD (1993) Modeling leaf development of the African violet (Saintpaulia ionantha Wendl.). J Amer Soc Hort Sci118: 747–751
Gallagher JN (1979) Field studies of cereal leaf growth: I. Initiation and expansion in relation to temperature and ontogeny. J Exp Bot30: 625–636
Gallagher JN, Biscoe RV (1978) Radiation, absorption, growth and yield of cereals. J Agric Sci Camb91: 47–60
Gardner FP, Pearce RB, Mitchell RL (1990) Physiology of Crops Plants. Iowa State Univ Press, Ames
Hammer GL, Hill K, Schrodter GN (1987) Leaf area production and senescence of diverse grain sorghum hybrids. Field Crops Res17: 305–317
Karlsson MG, Werner JW (2001) Temperature affects leaf unfolding rate and flowering of cyclamen. Hort Science36: 292–294
Kirby EJM, Appleyard M, Fellowes G (1985) Effect of sowing date and variety on main shoot leaf emergence and number of leaves of barley and wheat. Agronomie5: 117–125
Liu W, Li S, Chen DL (2003) Use of amino acid nitrogen for growth by pak-choi under sterile culture. Acta Hort627: 131–138
McMaster GS, Wilhelm WW (1997) Growing degree-days: One equation, two interpretations, Agr Forest Meteorol87: 291–300
Muchow RC, Carberry PS (1989) Environmental control of phenology and leaf growth in a tropically adapted maize. Field Crops Res20: 221–236
Muchow RC, Carberry PS (1990) Phenology and leaf-area development in a tropical grain sorghum. Field Crops Res23: 221–237
NeSmith DS (1997) Summer squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) leaf number as influenced by thermal time. Sci Hort68: 219–225
Ritchie JT, NeSmith DS (1991) Temperature and crop development,In RJ Hanks, JT Ritchie, eds, Modelling Plant and Soil Systems. Agron Monogr 31, Amer Soc Agron, Madison
Slafer GA, Connor DJ, Hailoran GM (1994) Rate of leaf appearance and final number of leaves in wheat: Effects of duration and rate of change of photoperiod. Ann Bot74: 427–436
Smart RE (1985) Principles of grapevine canopy microclimate manipulation with implications for yield and quality: A review. Amer J Enol Vitic36: 230–239
Warrington IJ, Kanemasu ET (1983) Corn growth response to temperature and photoperiod: II. Leaf-initiation and leaf appearance rates. Agron J75: 755–761
Williams L III, Martinson TE (2003) Nondestructive leaf area estimation of ‘Niagara’ and ‘DeChaunac’ grapevines. Sci Hort98: 493–498
Williams LE (1987) Growth of ‘Thompson Seedless’ grapevines: I. Leaf area development and dry weight distribution. J Amer Hort Sci112: 325–330
Yin X, Kropff MJ (1996) The effect of temperature on leaf appearance in rice. Ann Bot77: 215–221
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cho, Y.Y., Son, J.E. Estimation of leaf number and leaf area of hydroponic pak-choi plants (Brassica campestns ssp,chinensis) using growing degree-days. J. Plant Biol. 50, 8–11 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03030593
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03030593