We have analyzed vector magnetograms and Hβ filtergrams of two sunspot groups, one in a growing phase and the other in a decaying phase. In this study, the temporal evolution of their magnetic morphology has been investigated in association with solar activity. The morphological variations of the growing and decaying phase of these sunspots revealed in detail the coalescence of small spots into a large spot and the fragmentation of a large spot into many small spots, respectively. Numerous small flares were detected in the spot group during the decaying phase. This seems to be intimately associated with the shearing motions of many spots with different polarities created by fragmentation of a large sunspot. The magnetic flux and the average shear angle are found to be substantially reduced during the decaying phase, especially in the course of the flarings. This implies that the decaying phase of the sunspot is, to some degree, involved with magnetic field cancellation. The growing spot group has not shown any large activities, but numerous small spots have grown into a typical bipolar sunspot.

Three rice cultivars, Namweonbyeo (early maturing), Hwaseongbyeo (medium maturing) and Dongjinbyeo (medium-late maturing) were trans-planted with 3 different seedling ages to investigate their growth habits and to improve the cultural method in paddy fields in the southern plain area of the Honam region in 1993. The 10-day old seedlings had more vigorous elongation of plant height and higher tillering ability but lower effective tiller rate, when compared with 35-day or 40-day old seedlings. Leaf area index and top dry weight were lower in 10-day old seedlings up to 40 days after transplanting but thereafter, were not different among seedlings ages. CGR was later in 10-day old seedlings, up to 30 days after transplanting, but in 30 to 40 days after transplanting, it was reversed. RGR was the highest in infant seedlings to 40 days after trans-planting, while in 50 days after transplanting, it was reversed. Panicle number and spikelet number per square meter were the highest in 40-day old seedlings, next highest in 35-day old seedlings and the lowest and in adult seedlings up to 40 days after transplanting, while spikelet number per panicle was vice versa. Milled rice yield did not vary significantly by seedling ages, but among the varieties, it was less in Hwaseongbyeo compared with Naweonbyeo and Dongjnbyeo.