METHOD TO MEASURE SHAPE OF LEAVES IN WOODY PLANTS Russian patent published in 2013 - IPC A01G7/00 G01B5/20 

FIELD: agriculture.

SUBSTANCE: method includes taking leaves from accounted trees growing under different ecological conditions, drawing a contour of a leaf on a scaled paper and counting squares on the scaled paper to detect leaf area. Each measured leaf is placed on a substrate with a sheet of scaled paper fixed on it. The longitudinal axis of the plant leaf is matched along the main vein with one of centimetre lines of the scaled paper grid. Then the leaf is pressed to the scaled paper and outlined along the contour with a recording device to produce a clear side line of the leaf. Position of the main longitudinal vein is marked at the ends of the leaf on the scaled paper. Further measurements are made on the scaled paper by width of each half of the drawn contour of the leaf as the distance from the main vein to the line of the leaf contour outline. By measured values of the leaf half widths, alternating width of the leaf is calculated as sum of halves, as well as their difference as absolute asymmetry of the leaf, and also their ratio as a coefficient of leaf asymmetry. Further using measured and calculated values of leaf parameters, with statistical modelling they detect biotechnical laws of the middle line and wave of the contour in each half of the leaf. On the basis of ratios of the difference between actual and rated values of width along the average side line in each half of the leaf they decide on the coefficient of dynamism of leaf shape development and growth.

EFFECT: method provides for increased accuracy of measurement of a wood leaf shape from its main vein and accuracy of indication of quality of environment surrounding each leaf of a woody plant by measurements of leaf location relative to a tree trunk and calculation of leaf surface shape asymmetry.

12 cl, 16 dwg