1967 Volume 36 Issue 3 Pages 252-256
In Setonaikai districts premature blossoming is frequently observed in tobacco plants transplanted at the stage of 11th or 12th leaf. In order to escape from the occurrence of this phenomenon, seedlings with less number of leaves than 11 or 12 are used to be transplanted especially in the case of the flue-cured variety, Hicks I. -2. For the clarification of the causes of this phenomenon, studies were made for three years on the relationship of seedling age and transplanting period to morphological characteristics of plants at flowering stage. Results obtained were as follows; 1). Seedlings with 9 to 12 leaves of Hicks I. -2. variety were used. With increased age of seedlings used for transplanting, the subsequent time required for flowering decreased, accompanying with plant height and total leaf number at flowering stage. Plants transplanted at 11th or 12th leaf stage showed the typical type of premature blossoming, which had narrow leaves and decreased number of them. 2). The later the transplanting period, the more number of leaves plants bore. But the trends mentioned above were observed as well. 3). Plants transplanted later by keeping the seedlings growing in the seed-bed, not up to 12th leaf stage, bore no less number of leaves than those transplanted immediately at the stage fit for transplanting.
