This study was aimed at estimating the phyllochron on the main stem and on first order lateral branches, and estimate leaf area from leaf number in three tomato genotypes grown inside a plastic green-house. An experiment was conducted inside a plastic greenhouse at the experimental area of the Plant Science Department of the Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. Three tomato genotypes were used: 'Kátia', 'Durino', and 'Emperor'. Three to four-leaf seedlings were transplanted on 10/31/2005. The experimental design was a complete randomized block with four replications composed of two 8-plants rows. The number of leaves on the main stem and on first order lateral branches was counted in six plants of each replication. Leaf length and width were measured on two plants per replication. The phyllochron was estimated as the inverse of the slope of the linear regression of leaf number against accumulated thermal time from transplanting. The phyllochron on the main stem was greater than on the first order lateral branches. Leaf area on a stem of the tomato plant can be estimated from the number of accumulated lateral leaves on this stem.
leaf appearance; thermal time; plant development; leaf area; modeling
