Effect of nitrogen fertilizer on cell size and sugar accumulation in the leaves of cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.)

Abstract

Head and leaf weight of cabbage plants grown using half the nitrogen fertilizer applied to control plants (hereafter referred to as the half treatment) were markedly less than those obtained for control plants to which the standard amount of nitrogen fertilizer was applied. Sugar content 33 d after sowing (DAS) did not differ between treatments, but glucose and fructose content in the half treatment 82 DAS was higher than that of the control. Although the number of cell layers in cross-section for the leaves from both treatments was ≈20, cells from the half treatment appeared smaller than those of the control. Therefore, it is suggested that the higher sugar content in leaves of cabbage plants grown on media containing less nitrogen fertilizer occurs in response to the smaller cells in the leaves.