The effect of leaf removal from seedlings at transplanting and at the early growth stage in the field on the subsequent plant growth was studied during 1984 and 1985 at Drama. Three Oriental cultivars, namely KP 14a (neutral type), S 79 (taste type) and B 84/31 (aromatic type) differing in botanical and quality characteristics were included in the experiment. All seedlings at the removal stage had five leaves. By removig three leaves from each seedling at transplanting stage their leaf area and dry weight was reduced by 40-50% on the average in all cultivars. By removing four leaves the reduction was more than 90%. The removal of two leaves had no significant effect on subsequent growth. The removal of four leaves resulted in the delay of flowering from 60 (control) to 70 days and the increase in number of leaves from 27 (control) to 30.5 in cultivar KP 14/a. In cultivar S 79 flowering delayed from 80 (control) to 90 days and leaf number increased from 47.5 (control ) to 50.5 leaves on the average. Finally in cultivar B 84/31 flowering delayed from 60 to 70 days and leaves increased from 27 to 31.5 leaves.