Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine mathematical equations that estimate the leaf area of jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) in an easy and non-destructive way based on linear dimensions. In this way, 300 leaves of different sizes and in good sanitary condition of adult plants were collected at the Federal Institute of Espírito Santo, Campus Itapina, located in Colatina, municipality north of the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Were measured The length (L) along the midrib and the maximum leaf width (W), observed leaf area (OLA), besides the product of the multiplication of length with width (LW), length with length (LL) and width with width (WW). The models of linear equations of first degree, quadratic and power and their respective R² were adjusted using OLA as dependent variable in function of L, W and LW, LL and WW as independent variable. The data were validated and the estimated leaf area (ELA) was obtained. The means of ELA and OLA were compared by Student’s t test (5% probability) and were evaluated by the mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE) criteria. The choice of the best model was based on non-significant comparative values of ELA and OLA, in addition to the closest values of zero of EAM and RQME. The jackfruit leaf area estimate can be determined quickly, accurately and non-destructively by the linear first-order model with LW as the independent variable by equation ELA = 1.07451 + 0.71181(LW).

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