Temperature dependence of photosynthate partitioning in intact leaf tissue of tomato {Lycopersicon esculentum Milí. cv. Abunda) was studied by using a temperature gradient cuvette systém. At the low photon flux density (PFD, 85 pmol m*2 s**) and saturated CO2 concentration, the total saccharides production was similar over the temperature range from 14 to 30 «€. The starch foímation decreased with decreasing temperature. Formation of the soluble saccharides was affected by the temperature only slightly. This differential effect of the temperature resulted in an increase of the soluble saccharides/starch ratio in tomato leaves under chilling conditions.