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A Rapid Method for Plant Leaf Area Estimation in Maize (Zea mays L.)¹

Total plant leaf area of individual maize plants (Zea mays L.) at anthesis was estimated by multiplying the area of leaf number seven, the best estimator in these studies based on correlation analyses, by an appropriate "leaf area factor." This factor was determined by dividing total plant leaf area by the area of leaf seven, which was the largest or nearly the largest leaf for the 23 genotypes studied. For precise estimation, a factor should be determined for the largest leaf of each genotype or treatment in each population and each year. A very close correlation between estimated and actual leaf areas was observed when the leaf area factor was used.

To minimize the error incurred by plant-to-plant variation, at least five plants should be completely measured to determine the leaf area factor for a given genotype. This method of estimation could be applied widely to leaf area measurements in maize and should make it possible to determine leaf areas in yield trials, breeding nurseries, and extensive field tests.

Key Words: Growth analysis • Leaf area factor

² Graduate assistant (current address: Programa Maiz y Sorgo, C.N.I.A., I.C.A., Apartado Aereo 51764, Medellin, Columbia), Assistant Professor and graduate assistant (now Post-doctoral Fellow, CIMMYT, Apartado Postal 6-641, Mexico 6, D.F. Mexico). The authors wish to acknowledge the encouragement and assistance of Professor C. O. Grogan, Department of Plant Breeding, and the programming by Mrs. Anne Parkhurst, Computer Activities Group, Cornell University.

Received for publication August 9, 1968.

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