New tobacco hybrid is most disease-resistant burley variety to date
A new burley tobacco hybrid developed by N.C. State University veteran plant breeder Dr. Earl Wernsman is perhaps the hardiest variety of tobacco yet. NC 7, as it's known, has a unique combination of disease resistance not available in contemporary American burley tobacco cultivars.
"It's got the broadest spectrum disease resistance traits of any tobacco variety we know of," said Wernsman, William Neal Reynolds professor emeritus of crop science. NC 7 is resistant to many plant viruses, the root knot nematode, and the microbes that cause tobacco wildfire, black root rot, black shank disease and Fusarium wilt.
NC 7 was first tested in 2000 and recommended for release in early 2002 by the Burley Variety Evaluation Committee; it underwent additional field-testing in 2002 and 2003.
In addition to its disease resistance, NC 7 possesses exceptional yielding potential and high-quality dark-styled cured leaf. It produces 20 leaves per stalk. In tests by cigarette makers, the smoke flavor from the leaves was deemed acceptable.
Wernsman previously developed many other tobacco varieties, including the burley cultivar NC 4 and a flue-cured tobacco cultivar, NC 71. Both varieties were widely planted by tobacco farmers in the United States and overseas. Wernsman expects that NC 7, like the previous varieties, will be an international success.
Wernsman expects a small quantity of NC 7 seed will be available for limited grower trials in 2005.
-Anton Zuiker
"It's got the broadest spectrum disease resistance traits of any tobacco variety we know of," said Wernsman, William Neal Reynolds professor emeritus of crop science. NC 7 is resistant to many plant viruses, the root knot nematode, and the microbes that cause tobacco wildfire, black root rot, black shank disease and Fusarium wilt.
NC 7 was first tested in 2000 and recommended for release in early 2002 by the Burley Variety Evaluation Committee; it underwent additional field-testing in 2002 and 2003.
In addition to its disease resistance, NC 7 possesses exceptional yielding potential and high-quality dark-styled cured leaf. It produces 20 leaves per stalk. In tests by cigarette makers, the smoke flavor from the leaves was deemed acceptable.
Wernsman previously developed many other tobacco varieties, including the burley cultivar NC 4 and a flue-cured tobacco cultivar, NC 71. Both varieties were widely planted by tobacco farmers in the United States and overseas. Wernsman expects that NC 7, like the previous varieties, will be an international success.
Wernsman expects a small quantity of NC 7 seed will be available for limited grower trials in 2005.
-Anton Zuiker