Effects of night temperature on the growth of Nicotiana tabacum

Abstract

Four varieties of flue-cured tobacco, Nicotiana tabacum L., showed similar responses to night temperatures of 10°, 16°, 22°, and 28°C, with a day temperature of 27°C. Leaf growth rates and leaf production rates were approximately the same at night temperatures of 28° and 22°C, and were successively lower at 16° and 10°C. Dry weight accumulation was greatest at 22°. The node number of flower initiation increased with increasing night temperature over the whole range. There was no evidence of either a shift in the night temperature optimum or a physiological adaptation to low temperature during development.