Virginia Dark-Fired Tobacco Variety Information for 2004

Authors: C.A. Wilkinson, Associate Professor of Agronomy, Virginia Tech; T.D. Reed, Extension Agronomist, Tobacco; and C.S. Johnson, Extension Plant Pathologist, Tobacco; Southern Piedmont Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Blackstone, Virginia

Publication Number 436-418, Posted March 2004

Variety selection is an important aspect in profitable production of dark fire-cured tobacco. Average performance of seven varieties included in the 2003 Virginia Dark-fired Variety Tests are presented in Table 1. These tests were conducted in Campbell (K. Whitlow), Charlotte (D. Lacks), and Nottoway (Southern Piedmont Agricultural Research and Extension Center, AREC) counties under the joint supervision of Extension agents in the respective counties and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University research and Extension personnel. Testing in various locations throughout the production area makes it possible to evaluate varietal performance under the widely ranging soil and weather conditions existing in Virginia. This testing program also provides an opportunity for producers to observe dark fire-cured tobacco varieties under field conditions in their particular region. Contact the Extension agent in your county to arrange a visit to the on-farm variety test nearest you and to learn of tours of other tobacco on-farm tests.

Information is provided for widely grown varieties in Tables 1 to 4 of this publication. Data from Table 1 are for only one year and the results may not be indicative of what might occur in other years. Data from 1999 to 2003 are presented in Table 2. Certain agronomic and disease information is given in Tables 3 and 4. In addition to yield, quality potential, and ease of handling, the history of disease problems should be considered when selecting the variety best suited to your farm. Black shank is a disease caused by a soilborne fungus that has continued to cause yield reductions in many seasons. VA 355 is less susceptible to black shank than VA 309 or VA 359 (Table 4), but use of a soil fungicide is often necessary to minimize crop losses. If a soil fungicide is used, part of the fungicide should be applied at or before transplanting and the remainder at layby. Resistant varieties alone cannot prevent losses due to disease. Crop rotation is critical for disease management in dark fire-cured tobacco, even when disease resistant varieties are used. Resistant varieties should be used with crop rotation, early root destruction, and the proper use of labeled pesticides to achieve consistent, cost-effective disease control. Additional information on disease management systems may be found in the 2002 Dark-fired Tobacco Production Guide (VCE Publication 436-049).

Certified seed of type 21 dark-fire cured varieties VA 309 and VA 359 will be commercially available for 2004. Careful consideration should be given to the choice of variety to meet specific production objectives. Disease problems often can limit the production of oldline varieties such as Lizard Tail Orinoco or Brownleaf, JH. Varieties differ in disease reaction, chemical composition, response to nutrient levels in the soil, and many other factors. Careful study of the information presented in this publication may be helpful in choosing a variety that will fit into specific production management systems and alleviate or reduce the severity of particular production problems.

Table 1. Virginia Dark-Fired Tobacco Variety Test Results: Yield, Value, Price, and Grade Index, 2003.1
  State Average S. Piedmont AREC Campbell County Charlotte County
Variety Yield lbs/A Price $/cwt Yield lbs/A Price $/cwt Yield lbs/A Price $/cwt Yield lbs/A Price $/cwt
Brownleaf, JH 2007 225 2386 246 2070 198 1564 232
Liz Tail Orinoco 1925 210 2180 202 2034 196 1561 232
Shirey 1920 223 2130 239 2161 194 1470 235
VA 309 1984 211 2298 206 2117 194 1536 232
VA 312 1951 239 2228 244 2378 244 1246 230
VA 355 1761 219 2295 251 1672 176 1316 231
VA 359 1988 218 2073 221 2014 198 1877 235
Location Average 1934 221 2227 230 2064 200 1510 232
  Value $/A Grade Index2 Value $/A Grade Index2 Value $/A Grade Index2 Value $/A Grade Index2
Brownleaf, JH 4539 72 5879 80 4105 64 3632 73
Liz Tail Orinoco 4012 68 4410 69 4002 62 3623 72
Shirey 4254 72 5093 78 4204 62 3465 76
VA 309 4135 67 4751 68 4100 62 3555 72
VA 312 4704 74 5451 78 5788 73 2872 72
VA 355 3924 69 5755 81 2975 53 3042 72
VA 359 4374 71 4714 72 4000 64 4407 76
Location Average 4277 70 5150 75 4168 63 3514 73
1 Tests were conducted in Nottoway (Southern Piedmont AREC), Campbell (W. Whitlow), and Charlotte (D. Lacks) counties in 2003.
2 Grade index is a numerical quality rating based on government grade. High ratings are best.

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Table 2. Virginia Dark-Fired Tobacco Variety Test Results by Years, Southern Piedmont Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Blackstone, Va.
Variety Yield, lbs/A Value, $/A Price, $/cwt
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Avg. 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Brownleaf, JH 2611 2431 2494 2124 2386 2409 5603 4197 5539 4544 5879 215 171 222 212 246
Liz Tail Orinoco1 2527 2534 2571 2404 2180 2443 5198 3969 5261 5217 4410 206 156 205 216 202
Liz Tail Tur Ft1 2714 2659 2693 2437 2487 2598 6699 4709 6181 5374 5978 248 178 229 218 239
Shirey 2310 2521 2478 2154 2130 2319 4703 4448 5486 4760 5093 204 176 221 221 239
VA 309 2747 2814 2693 2276 2298 2566 6345 5051 5435 4427 4751 232 178 202 195 206
VA 310 2599 2856 2447 2120 2057 2416 5031 5376 5075 4396 4038 193 188 207 206 198
VA 312 2561 2147 2535 2286 2228 2479 6661 4999 5511 5033 5451 261 179 218 220 244
VA 331 2363 2240 2177 2174 2076 2187 4594 2850 3452 4159 4401 195 133 158 192 212
VA 355 2171 2573 2357 2214 2295 2255 4879 3989 4926 4520 5755 225 177 209 204 251
VA 359 2368 2475 2730 2447 2073 2438 5607 4641 5689 5411 4714 237 181 209 221 221
Year Average 2497 2556 2518 2264 2221   5532 4423 5256 4784 5047 222 172 208 211 226
1 Liz Tail Orinoco = Lizard Tail Orinoco; Liz Tail Tur Ft = Lizard Tail Turtle Foot.

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Table 3. Agronomic and Disease Information for Dark-Fired Tobacco Varieties Tested at the Southern Piedmont Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Blackstone, Va., 2003.
Variety Days to Flower Plant Height (in.) Leaf No. Ground Suckers per Plot1 Length (L) and Width (W)Disease Reaction2Group (%)3Color (%)4
L W L W BS TMV BRR X C B F M G
Brownleaf, JH 49 25.4 12.9 0.7 30.8 15.0 31.8 15.9 S S L 9 42 49 100 0 0
Liz Tail Orinoco5 49 25.2 14.9 0 31.8 14.3 29.2 14.4 S S S 0 78 22 65 35 0
Liz Tail Tur Ft5 49 25.4 13.8 0 34.3 15.9 33.8 16.9 S S S 0 93 7 83 17 0
Shirey 50 24.8 13.1 0.7 30.4 14.6 30.9 14.5 S S L 6 64 30 82 18 0
VA 309 50 25.8 13.7 1.0 28.1 14.5 27.7 14.9 L S M 29 51 20 79 21 0
VA 310 50 23.9 14.0 0 30.6 13.3 31.4 14.6 L S L 20 57 23 67 20 13
VA 312 50 24.3 13.2 0 32.3 14.5 32.1 15.5 S R H 0 89 11 91 9 0
VA 331 49 25.0 13.9 0 30.7 14.9 30.5 15.6 L S L 18 50 32 100 0 0
VA 355 50 22.4 13.1 0.3 33.0 15.4 33.3 16.4 M S ‹ 0 73 27 88 12 0
VA 359 52 24.5 13.3 0 29.7 14.9 29.7 15.3 L S ‹ 0 81 19 67 33 0
1 Ground suckers/18 plant plot.
2 Disease reaction: BS = Black Shank; TMV = Tobacco Mosaic Virus; BRR = Black Root Rot. H = high resistance; M = moderate; L = low; R = resistant; S = susceptible.
3 X = lugs; C = thin leaf; B = heavy leaf.
4 F = medium brown; M = mixed or variegated; G = green.
5 Liz Tail Orinoco = Lizard Tail Orinoco; Liz Tail Tur Ft = Lizard Tail Turtle Foot.

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Table 4. Percent plants infested with black shank at the end of the season after transplanting into a naturally infested field.1
Variety State Average Nottoway County Dinwiddie County Halifax County Charlotte County
Brownleaf, JH 54.93 100 17.42 47.52 54.64
VA 309 17.71 54.56 8.62 5.76 1.91
VA 355 3.21 3.49 5.07 4.10 0.20
VA 359 20.77 68.14 7.30 7.25 0.40
1 Tests were conducted in Nottoway (Southern Piedmont AREC), Dinwiddie (E. Baskerville farm), Halifax (B. Carr farm), and Charlotte (D. Lacks farm) counties in 1999 and 2000.

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Commercial products are named in this publication for information purposes only. Virginia Cooperative Extension and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University do not endorse these products and do not intend discrimination against other products which also may be suitable.

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