Tobacco | Diseases And Pests, Description, Uses, Propagation

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SIGN IN Go Back Tobacco Content Content 1. Description 2. Uses 3. Propagation 4. References Diseases - Fungal - Oomycete - Other - Fungal, Oomycete - Bacterial - Viral Pests - Insects See questions about Tobacco

Description

Tobacco, Nicotiana tabacum, is an herbaceous annual or perennial plant in the family Solanaceae grown for its leaves. The tobacco plant has a thick, hairy stem and large, simple leaves which are oval in shape. The tobacco plant produces white, cream, pink or red flowers which grow in large clusters, are tubular in appearance and can reach 3.5-5.5 cm (1,25-2 in) in length. Tobacco may reach 1.2-1.8 m (4-6 ft) in height and as is usually grown as an annual, surviving only one growing season. Tobacco may also be referred to as Virginia tobacco or cultivated tobacco and originates from South America. Tobacco harvest Tobacco flowering Tobacco flowers Tobacco plants Tobacco field Tobacco plants ‹ › ×

Uses

Tobacco is a stimulant and the dried leaves of the tobacco plant can be cured and used to produces tobacco cigarettes, cigars and snuff or for pesticide production. ‹ › ×

Propagation

Basic requirements Tobacco grows very well in a wide range of climates and will grow optimally at temperatures between 20 and 30°C (68–86°F) in areas where there is a dry period to facilitate harvest of the leaves. The type of soil depends on the variety of tobacco being grown but the best yields are usually obtained in loam to sandy loam soils. The soil should have a pH between 5.0 and 6-6. Tobacco plants are easily damaged by waterlogged soils and quality can be affected by high salinity. Plants should therefore be grown in a well draining and well aerated soil. Propagation Tobacco is propagated from seed on protected (covered) seed beds or in the glasshouse and transplanted to the final growing site. Seeds grown outdoors are protected for the first few weeks to prevent weather damage to the emerging young plants. seedlings are transplanted after 30–60 days when they are approximately 15 cm (6 in) in height. The young plants should be spaced 46–61 cm (18-24 in) apart. General care and maintenance The best quality tobacco leaves are produced when the the flowerheads of the plants are removed, a process known as topping. Topping plants promotes the development of suckers which should also be removed. Suckers are removed through the use of chemicals in commercial tobacco production with some hand removal also necessary. Fertilizer and irrigation requirements of tobacco vary with the variety being grown but generally, tobacco has a requirement of 40-80 kg per hectare of nitrogen, 80-90 kg per hectare of phosphorous and 50-110 kg per hectare of potassium. Harvesting Tobacco is harvested by hand in most parts of the world by picking 2–3 leaves from each plant per harvest. In the USA and Canada, tobacco plants are mechanically harvested by cutting the stalks of the plants. Only fully mature leaves should be harvested when hand picking is practices and harvests should be carried out at weekly intervals. After harvest, leaves are usually tied in pairs to cure. ‹ › ×

References

CABI Crop Protection Compendium. (2008). Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco)datasheet. Available at: http://www.cabi.org/cpc/datasheet/36326. [Accessed 21 April 15]. Paid subscription required. Dimock, W. J., Johnson, C. S., Reed, T. D., Semtner, P. J., Jones, R. L. Weaver, M. J. (2001). Crop profile for tobacco in Virginia. Regional IPM Centers publication. Available at: http://www.ipmcenters.org/cropprofiles/docs/vatobacco.pdf. [Accessed 21 April 15]. ‹ › ×

Common Pests and Diseases

Diseases

Category : Fungal

Alternaria leaf spot (Brown spot) Alternaria alternata

Closeup of brown spot Brown spot on tobacco Alternaria; Brown spot on lower leaf Symptoms of brown spot ‹ › ×

Symptoms

Small, circular, target-like spots on lower leaves; lesions are usually surrounded by a bright yellow halo; lesions enlarge and coalesce; centers of lesions dry out and drop from leaf giving foliage a ragged appearance; if variety of tobacco being grown is susceptible to the disease then spots may also appear on stalks and suckers; if spots girdle stems then the plant may be killed.

Cause

Fungus

Comments

Disease emergence favors warm, wet weather; excessive fertilization can cause greater crop losses.

Management

Rotating crop away from tobacco can help to reduce the levels of inoculum in a field; stalks and roots left after harvest should be removed and destroyed; control nematodes in the soil; ensure plants have adequate potassium available to promote vigorous growth.

Blue mold Peronospora tabacina

Blue-gray fungal growth is produced on the underside of the spots when the fungus is active Blue mold symptoms on tobacco Blue mold symptoms on tobacco Tobacco seedlings infected with blue mold Blue mold symptoms on tobacco seedling ‹ › ×

Symptoms

Circular patch of seedlings developing yellow leaves; seedlings in center may have leaves that have curled into a cup shape; fluffy blue spores developing on underside of leaves; distorted leaves; yellow lesions on leaves which may have blue mold growing on them.

Cause

Fungus

Comments

Disease emergence favors cool, wet conditions.

Management

Avoid over fertilizing tobacco crop and the use of overhead irrigation which created favorable conditions for the development of the fungus; applications of appropriate protective fungicides is usually necessary to control the disease in temperate and subtropical areas.

Frogeye leaf spot Cercospora nicotianae

Disease symptom on infected leaves Leaf spot symptoms Frogeye leaf spot on tobacco ‹ › ×

Symptoms

The pathogen infects all stages of crop (even after the leaves are harvested). Initially the lower leaves exhibit brown, round lesions which resembles frog-eye shape (generally of 2 -15 mm in diameter) with grayish center. The disease spreads upwards. Under favorable condition lesions may coalesce to become bigger lesions resulting in drying of leaves. Also we can see black dots (spores) in the centre of this lesions.

Cause

Fungus

Comments

The disease is favored by wet weather conditions. The pathogen is more prevalent in Taiwan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Central America and India.

Management

Remove and burn the infected leaves. Follow crop rotation. Keep the field free from weeds. Follow proper crop density. If the disease is severe apply suitable fungicides.

Category : Oomycete

Black shank Phytophthora parasitica

Black shank symptom The split open stalk showing dark pith in discrete discs Black shank infected plant Stalks generally develop black lesions which may extend several inches above the ground Leaves with symptoms of the disease "Black shank" in this case called "Foliar Black shank" on dark tobacco. ‹ › ×

Symptoms

Rapid yellowing and wilting of the plant proceeds plant death; dark brown to black sunken lesion is usually present on the stalk of the plant close to the soil line; lesion may extent up the stalk turning it black; splitting open stalks reveals darkened pith in discrete discs.

Cause

Oomycete

Comments

Disease emergence favors poorly drained soil and warm weather.

Management

Rotating the crop away from tobacco for at least one year will help to reduce levels of inoculum; plant tobacco varieties that have some degree of resistance to the disease; apply appropriate fungicides to the soil; plant tobacco in well draining soils; destroy stalks and roots immediately after harvest to reduce overwintering sites for the pathogen; control nematodes in the soil.

Category : Other

Broomrape Orobanche cernua Orobanche ramosa

Seeds of Nodding broomrape (Orobanche cernua) Nodding broomrape (Orobanche cernua) in tomato field Broomrape in tobacco field Nodding broomrape (Orobanche cernua) seeds Branched broomrape (Orobanche ramosa) attached to the tobacco roots ‹ › ×

Symptoms

Broomrape is an complete root parasite which lacks chlorophyll and conspicuous leaves. Generally the weed shoots emerge near the tobacco plants in cluster and there roots were attached to tobacco roots to extract nutrients and water. The infested plants become weak, stunted with pale leaves. Eventually the whole plant may wilt.

Cause

Weed

Comments

It will cause 30 to 70% yield loss depends on severity of infestation. Broomrape also attacks on tomato, okra, eggplant etc.

Management

Deep summer ploughing helps in exposing weed seeds to sunlight and reduce weed population. Remove the emerged weeds before flowering and burn them (hand weeding). Rotating the crop with sorghum, black gram etc., to reduce weed population.

Category : Fungal, Oomycete

Collar rot Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Plants can be rotted in half by complete rotting of a portion of the lower stem. Collar rot infected plants Lower stem of an infected plants which severely rotted. ‹ › ×

Symptoms

Water-soaked, soft, green, lesion at base of stem; white mycelium present on lesion; black fungal structures developing out of the white fungal growth.

Cause

Fungus

Comments

Serious disease of glasshouse grown tobacco plants.

Management

Reduce build-up of moisture in glasshouses by increasing ventilation and air circulation; increase frequency of leaf clipping and reduce the amount of leaves removed at each clipping; avoid injury to seedlings.

Category : Bacterial

Granville wilt Ralstonia solanacearum

Infected stem Bacterial wilt infected plant Infected plant Symptoms on infected stem ‹ › ×

Symptoms

Wilting on one side of the plant; entire plant begins to wilt and plant usually dies; if plant does not die then growth is usually stunted with twisted and distorted leaves; the stalk of the plant turns black, especially at the soil line.

Cause

Bacterium

Comments

The disease is most damaging in fields where tobacco has been grown the previous year and in wet areas of fields; bacterium can also colonize other Solanaceous crops such as tomato, pepper and eggplant as well as several weed species.

Management

One of the most important management strategies for Granville wilt is crop rotation as the bacteria that cause the disease do not survive well in the absence of the tobacco host plant; a rotation away from tobacco for as little as one year is highly beneficial; some tobacco varieties are more susceptible to the disease than others, although none are completely immune, and should be grown when the disease is of concern; all tobacco crop debris should be removed and destroyed following harvest to reduce inoculum levels.

Category : Viral

Tobacco Leaf Curl disease Tobacco Leaf Curl Virus (TLCV) Begomovirus

TLCV infected field Tobacco Leaf Curl Virus (TLCV) infected plant ‹ › ×

Symptoms

The infected plants are stunted with twisted stem ; leaves become small, curled, twisted and puckered. The veins of infected leaves may become thickening or show enations.

Cause

Virus

Comments

The virus is transmitted by whiteflies Bemisia tabaci.

Management

Use available resistant varieties. Controlling the whiteflies will reduce the virus spread- use yellow sticky traps or cover the tobacco seedling /nursery with nylon nets or growing barrier crops (like sunflower etc.,) around the nursery may reduce the white fly population.

Tobacco mosaic Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)

Infected leaf Tobacco plant showing symptoms of infection with Tobacco Mosaic Virus. Tobacco plant infected with TMV ‹ › ×

Symptoms

Alternating light and dark green patches on the leaves; leaves turning brown and drying out.

Cause

Virus

Comments

Can be spread by farming equipment and on hand that have come into contact with cigarettes or other tobacco product; wash hands after tobacco use before touching plants.

Management

Plant resistant tobacco cariteies; remove and destroy any infected plants; disinfect tools thoroughly; wash hands thoroughly after use of tobacco products before handling plants; avoid having tobacco products on person when working with tobacco plants.

Tomato spotted wilt virus on Tobacco Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV) Tospovirus

TSWV infected plant The mature leaves showing concentric ring spots Infected plant in the field showing symptoms ‹ › ×

Symptoms

It infects all stage of tobacco plant. The infected young leaves may turn yellow then reddish brown; buds may become distorted and deformed. The mature leaves may develop concentric ring spots which later coalesce to form large areas of dead tissue . Some leaves shows yellowing and death of plant tissue along leaf veins. Stem may also show dark oblong concentric spots and lesions.

Cause

Virus

Comments

The virus attack wide variety of crops and is mainly transmitted by thrips.

Management

Remove the infected plant and burn them. Keep the field free from weeds. Spraying suitable insecticide to control thrips.

Pests

Category : Insects

Aphids Myzus persicae

Development of sooty mold on tobacco leaves due to aphids infestation Aphid infestation Aphid infestation on tobacco leaf ‹ › ×

Symptoms

Small soft bodied insects on underside of leaves and/or stems of plant; usually green or yellow in color, but may be pink, brown, red or black depending on species and host plant; if aphid infestation is heavy it may cause leaves to yellow and/or distorted, necrotic spots on leaves and/or stunted shoots; aphids secrete a sticky, sugary substance called honeydew which encourages the growth of sooty mold on the plants.

Cause

Insect

Comments

Distinguishing features include the presence of cornicles (tubular structures) which project backwards from the body of the aphid; will generally not move very quickly when disturbed.

Management

If aphid population is limited to just a few leaves or shoots then the infestation can be pruned out to provide control; check transplants for aphids before planting; use tolerant varieties if available; reflective mulches such as silver colored plastic can deter aphids from feeding on plants; sturdy plants can be sprayed with a strong jet of water to knock aphids from leaves; insecticides are generally only required to treat aphids if the infestation is very high - plants generally tolerate low and medium level infestation; insecticidal soaps or oils such as neem or canola oil are usually the best method of control; always check the labels of the products for specific usage guidelines prior to use.

Horworms (Tobacco hornworm, Tomato hornworm) Manduca quinquemaculata Manduca sexta

Hornworm larvae feeding on tobacco leaves Tobacco hornworm Tobacco leaf damaged by hornworms ‹ › ×

Symptoms

Feeding damage to leaves or leaves stripped from plant; heavy infestation may result in damage to fruit appearing as large open scars; large green caterpillars may be spotted on plant; caterpillars may reach in excess of 7.5 cm (3 in) in length and possess a spike at the end of their body; most common species have 7 diagonal stripes on sides or 8 v-shaped markings on each side; single eggs may be present on leaves and measure approx 1.3 mm in diameter; eggs are in initially light green in color and turn white prior to hatching.

Cause

Insect

Comments

Insect overwinters as pupa in soil; typically undergoes 2 generations per year; heavy infestations are more common in warm areas.

Management

Hand pick larvae from plants leaving any parasitized larvae behind to promote populations of natural enemies (these larvae can be distinguished by the presence of white, oblong-shaped cocoons on their backs); sprays of Bacillus thuringiensis are organically acceptable and highly effective.

Loopers (Cabbage looper, Alfalfa looper) Trichoplusia ni Autographa californica

Cabbage looper and damage on tobacco ‹ › ×

Symptoms

Large or small holes in leaves; damage often extensive; caterpillars are pale green with a white lines running down either side of their body; caterpillars are easily distinguished by the way they arch their body when moving; eggs are laid singly, usually on the lower leaf surface close to the leaf margin, and are white or pale green in color.

Cause

Insect

Comments

Insects overwinter as pupae in crop debris in soil; adult insect id a dark colored moth; caterpillars have a wide host range.

Management

Looper populations are usually held in check by natural enemies; if they do become problematic larvae can be hand-picked from the plants; an organically acceptable control method is the application of Bacillus thuringiensis which effectively kills younger larvae; chemical sprays may damage populations of natural enemies and should and should be selected carefully. ×

Question about Tobacco

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