On the Relationships of Net CO(2) Assimilation and Leaf Expansion to Vegetative Growth in Lycospersicum esculentum, var Jubilee

Relationships between net plant CO₂ 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 CO₂ 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 CO₂ assimilation/leaf area and leaf starch consistently declined with time while net CO₂ 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.