Disease resistant flue-cured tobacco breeding lines for north Queensland 2. Resistance to bacterial wilt, Pseudomonas solanacearum and black shank, Phytophthora nicotianae var. nicotianae

Abstract

Two soil borne diseases, bacterial wilt, Pseudomonas solanacearum, E. F. Smith and black shank, Phytophthora nicotianae (B. De Haan) var. nicotianae, cause economic harm to tobacco crops in certain parts of north Queensland. Host plant resistance is the main means of control for both diseases. During the period from 1969 until the closure of the Tobacco Research Institute at Mareeba in 1975, part of the plant breeding programme was directed towards combining black shank resistance and bacterial wilt resistance with resistance to blue mould, Peronospora tabacina, Adam in a commercially acceptable cultivar. As a result of this programme, fourteen lines have been selected which have a good level of resistance to the three diseases and an acceptable commercial potential. Further improvement can be expected from selection. The development of a new strain of blue mould will preclude the general release of these lines for commercial production but they will be of value as breeding lines and for restricted release in areas where either of the soil borne diseases is a problem.