The modeling of the relation among the temperature and light intensity of growth in Ocimum basilicum L.

Abstract

Changes in plant growth caused by the effects of environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity were intended to be described by plant growth models. The study was aimed to define the relationships between temperature, light intensity and growth parameters namely net assimilation rate, relative growth rate, leaf weight ratio, leaf area ratio and specific leaf area for sweet basil. The quantitative effects of temperature and light intensity on growth parameters were examined in greenhouse-grown sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) (Lamiacae) plants. Temperature values and light intensities were measured daily in both shaded and un-shaded parts during experiment. All equations produced for growth parameters were derived as affected by light intensity and/or temperature. As a result of ANOVA and multi-regression analysis, it was found that there was close relationship between actual and predicted growth parameters. The regression coefficients (R(2)) of the produced equations for growth parameters changed from R(2) = 0.93 (leaf weight ratio) to R(2) = 0.98 (leaf area ratio).