1

PLANT PHYSIOLOGY LAB. LEAF SURFACE AREA

Method: Lab report

Description: Complete a lab report based on the leaf area data collected for two different plants found in your
surroundings (home or community).

Instructions:

1. Sample collection & identification:

a. Collect two leaf samples from two different plants found around your home or in your community.
b. Take a picture of each plant and a close up of the leaves.
c. Name each plant with both scientific and common names.

2. Determine the leaf area using graph paper:

a. Measure the graph paper to determine 1-cm.
b. Trace the leaves onto the paper; do not include the area of the stem (petiole)
c. Count the number of square centimetres.
 Estimate the area of the partial squares.
 (Here's a simple method for this estimate: Count a partial square if it is at least half covered
by the leaf; do not count partial squares that are less than half covered.
d. Record leaf area in the table.
e. Show all calculations.
f. Attach a copy of the graph sheet with your leaf tracings.

3. Determine the leaf area using a mobile app:

a. Download LeafByte for iPhone or Easy Leaf Area Free for Android phones
b. Use the tutorial in LeafByte or the Help function in Easy Leaf Area
c. Watch the video from class
d. Follow the instructions in the app to record leaf area.
e. Place your flattened leaves or leaflets on a white piece of paper.
f. Ensure that your phone is completely horizontal (use surface level or compass)
g. Record leaf area in the table.
h. Attach a copy of the leaf image with the scale used.

4. Determine the leaf area using Image J:

a. Place your flattened leaves or leaflets on a white piece of paper.
b. Place a ruler along the edge of one side of the paper.
c. Take a picture of your leaf samples with the ruler captured in the image.
d. Watch the video and follow the instructions to download Image J
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vHUbuGyoC0
e. Image J link: https://imagej.nih.gov/ij/download.html
i. Use the relevant link based on your system (64-bit or 32-bit for Windows or Mac OS X)
f. Measure leaf area using image J:
i. Open your image (File>Open then select image from the folder where it was stored)
ii. Follow the directions in any of the videos below:
 My Leaf Area with Image J (5:39 mins): https://youtu.be/1MrWKL2QDek
 With a ruler in the image (1:53 mins): https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=idsrN2NKtJ4
 With a ruler in the image (5:55 mins): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIrY-
egQSS8
g. Image J guide (198 pages): https://imagej.nih.gov/ij/docs/guide/user-guide.pdf
h. Record leaf area in the table.
i. Attach a copy of the leaf image with the scale used.

5. Determine the error percentage for your leaf area measurements.

a. Use the graph paper measurement as Ag.
b. Compare each method to Ag in the equation below to determine the error percentage for each of the
measurements.
 2

E= Ag - Al x 100%
Ag

6. Write a full lab report following the CMOS format and include this worksheet in the appendix.
Topics to consider in writing your introduction about why we study leaf area:
 Introduce the concept of leaf area and its impact on plant growth and development and state
why leaf area is important. Include appropriate references to support the information in your
report.
 Photosynthetic capacity of crops (FPP)
 Transpiration of plants (for setting irrigation standards)
 Photosynthetic pigments in cells of leaves
 Damaged leaves: plant diseases and insect pests, calculation of economic damage threshold
force (EPSH)
 Performance: vegetative mass of plants
 In breeding work for determining the impact of varietal characteristics on:
o Forming leaf apparatus
o Resistance to diseases and pests lesions
 In ecology for:
o Determining the impact of environmental conditions on the formation of plants
o Defining the populations of insects and microorganisms that affects plants

In your discussion, include, at least:

a. An explanation of which method you think is most accurate and why?
b. An explanation of how the surface area of each plant affects the rate of transpiration.
c. Discuss how plant growth and development of each plant can be affected by the leaf surface area.

Name your file LastName_FirstName_W4LT1

RESULTS:

Example of a Comparative Table for your results

Image J Mobile App

Plant name (scientific and common Graph Paper measurements measurements
names) (cm2) (cm2) (cm2)
 3

Easy Leaf Area Free Scale (4 cm2)

 4

Leaf Byte Scale (20 cm x 20 cm)

5