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Leaf Development of Alfalfa at Several Temperatures¹

Five leaf development indices were interrelated with leaf area, leaf weight, specific leaf weight (SLW), net carbon exchange (NCE), and petiole elongation of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). The summation of leaf indices to give leaf equivalents provides a time-saving measure of the rate of leaf development, which may be closely correlated with rates of dry matter accumulation. The system cannot be used to measure leaf changes after full expansion. Leaf weight, SLW, and NCE per unit leaf area increased as leaves developed from emergence to full expansion. Increases were nearly linear and correlations among any two of the categories were highly significant. Plant development as shown by accumulated leaf equivalents at 10, 21, and 32 C was nearly linear and declined with each decrease in temperature. Fully expanded leaves were smaller in 32 than in 10 or 21 C environments.

Key Words: Morphology • Net carbon exchange • Specific leaf weight

² Associate Professor and Professor of Agronomy, respectively.

Received for publication July 13, 1970.