The Dynamics of Leaf Growth and Photosynthetic Capacity in Capsicum frutescens L.

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Abstract
In Capsicum frutescens L. cv. California Wonder the specific leaf weight (dry weight per unit laminar area) at leaf unfolding is three times higher in the eighth leaf than in the first leaf produced. Intermediate leaves exhibit a trend between the two The change in specific leaf weight during laminar expansion is greatest in leaf 1 and least (sometimes zero) in leaf 8. Large changes in specific leaf weight during laminar expansion are associated with a large degree of palisade cell expansion, while leaves showing smaller rates of change have less palisade cell expansion but cell division is more evident. At leaf unfolding the fraction I protein content per unit laminar area is higher in upper than in lower leaves. Ribulose diphosphate carboxylase activity per unit laminar area and 14CO2 fixation per unit laminar area have a similar pattern of development in all leaves and show no correlation with the changes in specific leaf weight. The peak of activity in all leaves occurs when the laminar area is 10 cm2. These results are compared with previous data on laminar expansion and are seen as in accord with current ideas on leaf growth.

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