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Night temperature has a significant impact on the plant growth and dry matter production by altering the metabolites between the membrane systems. Optimum day/night temperature is required for poppy plant to increase the potential yield of the crop. This experiment was done to test the effect of night temperature on the growth and dry matter production in poppy plants. Experiment were conducted in growth cabinets at Horticulture Research Centre (HRC) with two varieties (V1, V4), each with two replications under three different night temperature treatments (2.5℃, 7.2℃, 12℃). Plant measurements were recorded each week and the plant dry matter was observed against different treatments. Plants subjected to low temperature yielding less capsule weight due to chilling injury and high dry weight of leaves and stem due to internodal elongation. The increase in the capsule weight at 12℃ is due to the increase in metabolic activities and also the genetic makeup of the variety. Difference between the dry matter content in between the varieties is due to the genotype interaction of the plants with the environment. V4 is found to be effective variety when compared to V1.

Key words: Temperature, Yield components, Metabolites, Chilling, Photoperiod.