Abstract: In order to find out the respiratory intensity and energy metabolism of upper tobacco leaves harvested with stalks during the curing process, the moisture content, respiratory intensity, the activity of key enzymes (CCO, SDH), the content of energy related substances (AMP, ADP, ATP) and the dynamic change of energy charge were studied with Yunyan 87 as the test material and leaves harvested without stalks as control. The results showed that, compared with leaves harvested without stalks, the whole leaf moisture content, leaf moisture content and leaf vein moisture content of tobacco leaves harvested with stems were higher during curing. The leaf moisture content was 25.90% higher at the end of 42 ℃, and the leaf vein moisture content was 14.99% higher at the end of 50 ℃. The respiration intensity of leaves harvested with stalks was always higher and it was 17.80% higher at the end of 38 ℃. The high activity time of CCO and SDH was longer, which was 45.57% and 23.78% higher than that of leaves harvested without stalks at the end of 42 ℃. The ATP content and energy charge level were generally higher than those of leaves harvested without stalks. The ATP content was 43.01% higher at 46 ℃, and the energy charge was 0.13 at 42 ℃. To sum up, the leaves with stalks treatment can maintain a high moisture content, respiratory intensity and energy supply status of tobacco leaves during the curing process, providing sufficient water and energy supply for the material transformation and quality improvement of tobacco leaves during the curing process.