Black Shank Resistant Tobacco Varieties

Black shank is a soil-borne disease that can be devastating to tobacco. In some years it can seriously lower yields, especially where disease populations are high and non-resistant varieties are used. The first symptom usually noticeable is wilting. While plants sometimes recover during the night, they wilt again the following day, and leaves will eventually turn yellow and die. Larger roots of plants may turn black, and stalk may turn black near soil-level. Another symptom that occurs in advanced stages of black shank is called disking. Tissue inside stalks (pith) often dries, turns brown or black and separates into disks, or plate-like structures. One management practice for controlling black shank is the use of resistant varieties. F.W. Rickard Seeds, Inc. offers several varieties with black shank resistance. NOTE: Resistance does not equal immunity.

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TN D950

An early maturing variety with excellent yield and good quality. It withstands environmental stresses in the field better than some other varieties. Leaves are long and drooping, but not to the same extent as Narrow Leaf Madole. Leaf cures to dark brown in color. Fire Cured Variety.

VA 309

An early to medium maturity variety with good yield and quality. Leaves are semi-erect growing on plant and are dark green in the field. Leaf typically cures to a good brown color.  Fire Cured and Air Cured Variety.

VA 359

A medium maturity variety with yields slightly lower than VA 309. Leaf color is lighter green than VA 309 in the field. VA 359 is more upright in growth than VA 309, and bottom leaves of VA 359 hold up very well. Leaf quality is good and cured leaf color is typically medium brown.  Fire Cured and Air Cured Variety.

KT D4LC

A medium maturing variety with excellent top yield potential. Highest level of black shank resistance of any dark tobacco. Leaf quality is superior to TND950, with cured leaf being a good brown color. Growth habit is much more erect than most other dark fire-cured varieties.  Fire Cured and Air Cured Variety.