To overcome difficulties in seedling breeding in low temperature(the average temperature is 14.65 ℃ in March and April)areas and in areas receiving a low amount of sunlight(the average sunlight hour is 93.55 h in March and April),a closed-type transplant production system was designed and studied using flue-cured tobacco as the plant material.The system was used for breeding the tobacco seedlings and was compared with the floating system.The closed-type transplant production system shortened the breeding period,with the tobacco seedlings reaching the 5-leaf growth stage at approximately 25 d sooner than in the floating system.The stem diameter,dry weight of the roots,stems and leaves,root/shoot ratio,and rate of healthy seedlings were higher by 35%,160%,49%,8%,74%,and 84%,respectively,in the closed-type system than in the floating system.The costs of seedling breeding in the closed-type system with and without heeling-in(direct planting)were reduced by 70%and 21%,respectively,compared with the floating system.Our results showed that the closed-type transplant production system effectively mitigated the problems of long seedling age and low rate of healthy seedlings in low temperature areas and in areas receiving a low amount of sunlight without lowering the agronomic qualities of seedlings.Furthermore,this closed-type transplant system reduced the consumption of wetland peat,which is a non-renewable resource,thereby significantly reducing the cost of seedling breeding.This system can potentially solve transplant crop production problems encountered in low temperature areas and in areas receiving a low amount of sunlight in China.