Estimation of leaf area is a major component of plant growth models. In this study, a model was developed to calculate field-grown maize leaf area expansion and senescence on an individual leaf basis. The model began with an equation, based on cumulative growing degree-days from emergence, to initiate leaf area development. The model required daily values of maximum and minimum air temperature, solar radiation and precipitation, had essentially a daily time step with day and night modes, and could be run on commonly accessible computers (micros to mainframes). The objective of the development of the model was to assist plant breeders in optimizing leaf number and shape for adaptation to specific environments. Key words: Leaf area and number, temperature, phenological development
Leaf area development of micropropagated potato plants: effects of leaf area of individual plants on logistic curve parameters and correlations among these parameters