THE DYNAMICS OF A MAIZE CANOPY DEVELOPMENT 2. LEAF AREA GROWTH

REID J. F., ZUR B. and HESKETH J.D. The dynamics of a maize canopy develop­ ment. 2. Leaf area growth. BIOTRONICS 19, 99-107, 1990. The results of two growth chamber experiments are used to demonstrate the influence of temperature and leaf position on the dynamics of leaf area emergence in maize plants. Maize plants were grown under temperature regimes of 30j24°C and 19j14°C with a day length of 16 h. Individual leaf area growth was measured at 2 to 5 day intervals from seedling emergence to anthesis on five plants at each temperature regime. Maximal individual leaf areas were expressed as a qua­ dratic function of leaf position on the stalk and of temperature, with the higher temperatures producing smaller maximal leaf areas. Time-averaged leaf area growth rate was computed as the ratio of maximal leaf area and duration of leaf area growth. An equation was developed to relate time-averaged leaf area growth rate to leaf number and temperature. This equation in conjunction with equations representing the appearance of leaf tips and leaf collars was used compute individual leaf area growth in a maize canopy.