title: On the Relationships of Net CO(2) Assimilation and Leaf Expansion to Vegetative Growth in Lycospersicum esculentum, var Jubilee.
abstract: Relationships between net plant CO(2) exchange rate (CER) and canopy development were examined in ;jubilee' tomato over the initial 4 weeks of vegetative growth. A comparison was made between two plant groups that were alternatively exposed to 200 or 800 microeinsteins per square meter per second midday irradiation to establish a differential in net CER. Plants exposed to higher irradiation demonstrated a 2- to 4-fold greater net photosynthetic rate per leaf area and 100% average higher net CO(2) assimilation rate/plant. day. However, leaf-stem growth differed by <50% suggesting a poor relationship to CER. Leaf area growth rate (LAGR) of individual leaves appeared closely related to CER during initial leaf expansion but a greater function of order of emergence in successive leaf growth. LAGR on a per plant basis increased linearly with leaf dry weight but appeared more limited by factors determining maximum leaf enlargement and rate of new leaf development. Net CO(2) assimilation/leaf area and leaf starch consistently declined with time while net CO(2) assimilation plant/day approached a constant rate following 2 to 3 weeks growth. Composite results suggested a simple relationship for sucessive growth where accumulated leaf carbohydrate in excess of 200 milligrams/plant.day could be expected to be partitioned to other plant segments.
authors: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Western Regional Research Center, Albany, California 94710.
authors: D E
authors: DE
authors: Campbell
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Lyman
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Corse
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Hautala