Flag leaf recorded more photosynthetic rate in rice
K Kalaichelvi
The flag leaf is the last to emerge indicating the transition from crop growth to grain production. Photosynthesis in this leaf provides the majority of the carbohydrates for grain filling. So it is the important leaf for yield potential. Flag leaf size and area can significantly improve the grain yield. A rice field at panicle initiation was chosen to take the observation on physiological efficiency (Photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance) using Infra red Gas Analyser in lower, middle and flag leaf. Photosynthetic rate of flag leaf is higher an average of 7.56 µ mol m-2 Sec-1 for facilitating the translocation of nutrients. Lower leaf has recorded a photosynthetic rate of 2.96. Transpiration rate is in the range of 2.02 to 1.75 stomatal conductance was 0.27 in flag leaf which is lesser than middle leaf (0.29).
