Abstract
This experiment was conducted to obtain the basic information on the morphological and physiological changes in tobacco leaf during the growth period by measuring the changes of chlorophyll, sugar, lipid and mineral contents in tobacco plant. Leaf length and width have been fully developed at 25 days after leaf emergence. Dry weight was rapidly increased between 10 and 15 days after leaf emergence and reached the highest at 30 days. Crude lipid content, palmitic acid, and the major saturated fatty acid were increased with progressing senescence, while unsaturated fatty acid including linolenic acid was decreased as the senescence was advanced. The total nitrogen content showed the highest value at IS days after leaf emergence. On the other hand, the total sugar content showed the highest value at 45 days after leaf emergence and glucose, fructose and sucrose were decreased with leaf development and increased at the end of senescence. The content of chlorophyll showed the highest value at 15 days after leaf emergence and began to decrease at 30 days after leaf emergence. The contents of p, Cu, Zn, and Fe in tobacco leaves were decreased by the end of senescence after leaf emergence but those of Ca, Mg, and Mn in leaves were increased. Key words : Nicotiana tabacum chlorophyll, fatty acid, senescence.