A rapid non-destructive method for the estimation of leaf areas in cassava

Abstract

A rapid and non-destructive method of estimating leaf areas was required for detailed study of new cassava varieties. The outlines of leaves were traced in the field and leaf areas were obtained with a planimeter. Variety Caricass 2 was chosen for detailed study and 50 leaves of each lobe number (three to nine lobes per leaf) were measured. The length and width were recorded for all lobes and correlations were made with leaf areas. All lobe lengths and length × width were highly correlated with leaf area. It is therefore necessary to measure the length of only one lobe to get an estimate of leaf area. Comparisons of leaves with five and seven lobes from Caricass 1, Caricass 3 and a local variety showed that these varieties could be measured in the same way and that the regression coefficient for Caricass 2, Caricass 3 and the local variety were not significantly different. A common regression coefficient could be used to estimate leaf area on all three varieties. © 1985 Annals of Botany Company.