Measurement of leaf area is commonly used in many horticultural research experiments, but it is generally destructive, requiring leaves to be removed for measurement. Determining the individual leaf area (LA) of bedding plants like pot marigold (Calendula officinalis L.), dahlia (Dahlia pinnata), sweet William (Dianthus barbatus L.), geranium (Pelargonium × hortorum), petunia (Petunia × hybrida), and pansy (Viola wittrockiana) involves measurements of leaf parameters such as length (L) and width (W) or some combinations of these parameters. Two experiments were carried out during spring 2010 (on two pot marigold, four dahlia, three sweet William, four geranium, three petunia, and three pansy cultivars) and summer 2010 (on one cultivar per species) under greenhouse conditions to test whether a model could be developed to estimate LA of bedding plants across cultivars. Regression analysis of LA versus L and W revealed several models that could be used for estimating the area of individual bedding plants leaves. A linear model having LW as the independent variable provided the most accurate estimate (highest R2, smallest mean square error, and the smallest predicted residual error sum of squares) of LA in all bedding plants. Validation of the model having LW of leaves measured in the summer 2010 experiment coming from other cultivars of bedding plants showed that the correlation between calculated and measured bedding plants leaf areas was very high. Therefore, these allometric models could be considered simple and useful tools in many experimental comparisons without the use of any expensive instruments. and F. Giuffrida ... [et al.].
The aim of the current work was to determine whether grafting could improve salinity tolerance of melon and cucumber, and whether possible induction of tolerance to salt stress was associated with the protection of the photosynthetic apparatus. Two greenhouse experiments were carried out to determine gas exchange, mineral composition, growth and yield of melon (Cucumis melo L. cv. Cyrano) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Akito) plants, either ungrafted or grafted onto the Cucurbita hybrid rootstocks (Cucurbita maxima Duch. × Cucurbita moschata Duch.), ‘P360’, and ‘PS1313’, respectively. Plants were grown hydroponically and supplied with two nutrient solutions - a nonsalinized control and a salinized solution which contained 40 mmol L-1 of NaCl. Salinity induced a smaller decrease in leaf area index (LAI), in grafted-compared to ungrafted plants. Similarly, the
PN and gs reduction in NaCl treatment compared to control were significantly lower in grafted plants (34% and 34%, respectively, for melon and 14% and 15.5%, respectively, for cucumber) compared to ungrafted plants (42% and 40%, respectively, for melon and 30% and 21%, respectively, for cucumber). In all grafting combinations, negative correlations were recorded between Na+ and Cl- in the leaf tissue and PN. Grafting reduced concentrations of sodium, but not chloride, in leaves. Under saline conditions a smaller reduction in melon and cucumber shoot biomass dry mass and fruit yield were recorded, with positive correlations between shoot biomass, yield and PN. These results suggest that the use of salt tolerant Cucurbita rootstock can improve melon and cucumber photosynthetic capacity under salt stress and consequently crop performance., Y. Rouphael ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Accurate and nondestructive methods to determine individual leaf areas of plants are a useful tool in physiological and agronomic research. Determining the individual leaf area (LA) of rose (Rosa hybrida L.) involves measurements of leaf parameters such as length (L) and width (W), or some combinations of these parameters. Two-year investigation was carried out during 2007 (on thirteen cultivars) and 2008 (on one cultivar) under greenhouse conditions, respectively, to test whether a model could be developed to estimate LA of rose across cultivars. Regression analysis of LA vs. L and W revealed several models that could be used for estimating the area of individual rose leaves. A linear model having L×W as the independent variable provided the most accurate estimate (highest r2, smallest MSE, and the smallest PRESS) of LA in rose. Validation of the model having L×W of leaves measured in the 2008 experiment coming from other cultivars of rose showed that the correlation between calculated and measured rose LA was very high. Therefore, this model can estimate accurately and in large quantities the LA of rose plants in many experimental comparisons without the use of any expensive instruments. and Y. Rouphael ... [et al.].