Research of plant type and light distribution of tomatoes determined by imaging technology

In order to determine the canopy structure of tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) that has the advantages of increasing light interception and decreasing planting area, the authors selected two representative tomato plant type strains, namely, leaf-up and leaf-down as testing materials. Plant type structure parameters, leaf area index (LAI) and light distribution (gap fraction) were measured using imaging technology. At planting spacing of 0.4, 0.5, and 0.6 m, the effective LAI of leaf-up tomatoes was all greater than that of leaf-down tomatoes. At the azimuths and zeniths, gap fractions of leaf-up tomatoes were less than those of leaf-down tomatoes. Overall, the interceptive capability of leaf-up tomatoes was superior to that of leaf-down tomatoes. The leaf-up type is a better plant type for close planting and intercepts more light.