Leaf Area Estimation Models for Ginger (Zingibere officinale Rosc.)

Abstract

The study was carried out to develop leaf area estimation models for three cultivars (37/79, 38/79 and 180/73) and four accessions (29/86, 30/86, 47/86 and 52/86) of ginger. Significant variations were observed among the tested genotypes in leaf length (L), leaf width (W) and actual leaf area (ALA). Leaf area was highly correlated with L  W, followed by L + W, L and W. Regression equations developed for the aforementioned cultivars and accessions were Y = 13.6 + 1.204X, Y = 4.244 + 1.349X, Y = 0.516 + 1.428X, Y = -54.627 + 2.201X, Y = 1.811 + 1.421X, Y = -2.386 + 1.489X and Y = -4.614 + 1.831X respectively, where Y is estimated leaf area (ELA) and X is L  W, and have R2 ranged between 0.916 and 0.942. Simple constants (K) were also derived from L  W and have the values of 1.454, 1.458, 1.396, 1.626, 1.433, 1.586 and 1.429 for the respective genotypes. On all cultivars and accessions, the correlation coefficients (r) computed between ALA and ELA [K (L  W)] were positive and significant (p < 0.01). Hence both the regression models and K developed are employed equally for estimating the areas of intact ginger leaves.