Author(s)

R. J. Nkgapele, M. S. Mphosi & P. W. Mashela

Abstract

Greenhouse studies were conducted to compare wild watermelon (Cucumis africanus) and wild cucumber (C. myriocarpus) under five irrigation frequencies. The irrigation frequencies were 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 days, where 0 day implied daily irrigation. Samples were collected at T1 (70 days) and T2 (84 days) to determine (1) relative growth rate (RGR), (2) unit leaf rate (ULR), (3) leaf area ratio (LAR), (4) leaf weight fraction (LWF) and (5) specific leaf area (SLA) using the classical growth analysis tool. Generally, when using RGR and ULR, the model suggested that C. africanus had superior growth rate than C. myriocarpus, whereas for LAR and LWF C. myriocarpus was superior, variable results for SLA. In conclusion, C. myriocarpus exhibited potential for leafiness, a trait that is desirable since the plant leaves are harvested and used as a leafyvegetable by smallholder farming communities in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Keywords: relative growth rate, unit leaf rate, leaf area ratio, leaf weight fraction, specific leaf area. 1 Introduction The term plant growth analysis refers to a useful set of quantitative methods that describe and interpret the performance of whole plant systems grown under natural, semi-natural, or controlled conditions. Plant growth analysis provides an explanatory, holistic and integrative approach to interpret plant form and

Keywords

relative growth rate, unit leaf rate, leaf area ratio, leaf weight fraction, specific leaf area