Leaf appearance rate of summer rape

Abstract

Leaf appearance rate (LAR) is defined as the slope of the regression of leaf number on time of appearance. LARs were calculated for summer rape using both calendar days (CD) and growing degree days (GDD) as measurements of time. The relationship between the number of leaves and GDD or CD was linear. LARs after emergence were 0.022 leaves GDD−1 or 0.247 leaves d−1. Summer rape was grown in growth cabinets set at different mean temperatures to study the effect of air temperature on LAR. The relationship between leaf number and time was linear. When CD were used as a measure of time, LAR increased as mean temperature increased, while the reverse was true when GDD were used to measure time. Cabinet and field LARs were compared at a field mean temperature of 16.5 °C. Cabinet LARs were 0.021 leaves GDD−1 or 0.22 leaves CD−1 which were similar to those calculated in the field. The linear regression equation describing the relationship between LAR (leaves GDD−1) and mean cabinet temperature was used with field-measured daily mean temperatures and GDD to predict the number of leaves for field conditions. When observed number of leaves were plotted against predicted number of leaves, the resulting slope was not significantly different from one, indicating that the model developed in the growth cabinet can be used to predict LAR in the field. Key words: Leaf appearance rate, Brassica napus, phyllochron