Leaf Area in Some Autumn Oat Genotypes – Comparative Study

Abstract

The study aimed to determine leaf area in a collection of winter oat genotypes and to perform a comparative analysis of the genotypes. Twenty winter oat genotypes, designated Ao2501 to Ao2520, represented the biological material. The comparative crop was organized within the ARDS Lovrin, agricultural year 2024 – 2025. The field experiment was organized in randomized blocks, with repetitions. The flag leaf was considered in the study. Leaf area was determined using a portable scanner, Portable Area Meter LI-3000C (LI-COR). Ten leaves were randomly determined within each genotype. No outlier values ​​were recorded, according to the Outliers test (Grubbs test, Dixon Q test). Mean values ​​were recorded between LA = 12.05±1.00 cm² (Ao2510) to LA = 20.93±1.06 cm² (Ao2506). Significant differences between mean and median values ​​were confirmed (ANOVA Test, One-way ANOVA, and Kruskal-Wallis Test). Mann-Whitney pairwise test confirmed significant differences in 53 cases, out of a total of 190 comparative analyses related to the 20 genotypes. Compared to the average value at the experiment level (  = 15.92 cm²), with positive performance, and differences in statistical safety conditions, the genotypes Ao2505 (p<0.01, **) and the genotypes Ao2503, Ao2506, Ao2507, Ao2518 (p<0.001, ***) were positioned. Cluster analysis facilitated the grouping of genotypes based on similarity in relation to the leaf area of ​​the flag leaf.