Abstract
The influence of day-length on the eggplant, cv.‘Kokuyou’seedlings, which were grown under 6-, 8-, 10-, 12-, 16-, 18-hr day-length and natural day-length (13-14 hr), was investigated. The results obtained are summarized as follows.
1. The growth of seedlings became vigorous as the day-length became longer until 16 hr on the dry weight basis, thereafter was inhibited with a decrease on chlorophyll content. Chlorosis appeared only at 18 hr day-length plot. Seedlings grown under natural day-length showed the smallest value of stem weight to root weight (S/R) compared with those grown under either shorter or longer day-length condition. It was found that leaf area of seedlings grown under 6-8 hr short day condition expanded with pale green and little dry weight.
2. Plants from seedlings grown under natural long day condition showed the highest yield with deeper root distribution pattern affected by a lot of thick roots over 1 mm in diameter. On the contrary shading or supplemental lighting during raising seedlings supressed the growth and yield with a shallow root system distribution.
3. It was clearly found that there was a negative correlation betweenS/Rvalue and yield, and a positive correlation between the number of thick roots and yield.
4. From the above-mentioned results, it may be concluded that longer natural day-length during raising seedlings is favorable for subsequent growth and yield.
