Evaluation location: Iowa, United States
In 2009 and 2010, Aronia accessions were established at the USDA-ARS North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station (NCRPIS), Iowa State University, Ames, IA. Seedlings were started by germinating seeds and then cultivating them in the greenhouse until seedlings were approximately 15-30 cm in height. They were then transplanted by hand in 2009 and 2010 by hand to a field at the NCRPIS farm (42 degrees 00' 40"N, 93 degrees 39' 33"W). Seedlings were grouped by accession in a single row. Plants were spaced 45-cm apart within rows and 550-cm apart between rows in a randomized block design. In 2013, LAI was measured using an AccuPAR Ceptometer (Model LP-80; Decoagon Devices, Inc.; Pullman, WA). Measurements were attained at mid-section of the plot, at ground level, ~10 cm parallel from the row of plants. The AccuPAR Ceptometer probe is 19 cm x 9.5 cm, and contains 8 segmented PAR sensors. Measurements were recorded three times on each side of the plant. The AccuPAR calculated LAI based on the above and below-canopy PAR measurements along with other variables (i.e. zenith angle, fractional beam measurement value, and leaf area distribution parameter). An average LAI was calculated from a total of six measurements.