The use of the portable, non-destructive, SPAD-502 (Minolta) chlorophyll meter with leaves of varying trichome density and anthocyanin content

The credibility of the portable, non-destructive SPAD (Minolta) chlorophyll meter was tested in the particular cases where the optical properties of a leaf change, irrespectively of its chlorophyll content. In greening Eukalyptus sp., Rosa sp. and Ricinus communis leaves, whose anthocyanin content declines dramatically with leaf age, the SPAD values versus actual chlorophyll concentration curves were not distorted by the different levels of anthocyanins. In Teucrium sp., Populus sp. and Buddleia sp., whose abaxial surfaces are highly reflective due to a dense indumentum, but their adaxial surfaces are glabrous, the SPAD values obtained from both surfaces were the same. It is concluded that the use of the chlorophyll meter can be extended to both highly pubescent and red leaves.