The leaf area of the Gold Mine melon was estimated when submitted to irrigation water levels varying from 55% to 130% of the hydric necessity of the crop, utilizing low and high salinity water. One plant per plot was collected at 19; 26; 34; 40 and 50 days after sowing, obtaining data of length, width, total leaf area, number of leaves, and individual leaf areas up to 24 leaves per plant. The results indicated that a partial correlation between the total plant leaf area (AF) and the number of leaves (NF) exists, with r² = 0.95**, and the regression equation AF = 108NF - 516, with r² = 0.95. The comparison of the models showed that at least one relation between leaf width (L) and leaf area (AF) differentiated from the others, even though the relation that assumes the whole data set (AF=0,826L1,89; r² = 0.97) has a high determination coefficient.
Cucumis melo L.; plant growth; salinity
