“YASINI” - A NEW HIGH YIELDING BLACK SHANK DISEASE RESISTANT CHEWING TOBACCO VARIETY FOR TAMIL NADU

Abstract

Yasini (BSR-1) is a high yielding and Black Shank disease resistant chewing tobacco variety developed through back cross breeding ((VR-2 × Beinhart10001)×VR-2) at ICAR-CTRI Research Station, Vedasandur for Chewing tobacco farmers Tamil Nadu, more particularly for coastal area. It was tested in the name of BSR-1 in All India Coordinated Research Project on Tobacco, it consistently performed better in the Research station as well as in the black shank sick fields in Vedaranyam areas of coastal chewing tobacco belt (Hot spot area) in replicated yield trials and recorded 80% higher yield over check variety VR-2 (check -1) and >22% over Kaviri (check-2). In agronomic trials, it recorded 5.8% higher leaf yield over Kaviri. In on-farm trials conducted for three years, the Yasini recorded 30% higher yield over VR-2 and 19% over Kaviri. Yasini produces broad ovate leaves, dark green, sessile with moderately puckered, margins slightly wavy, tip acute, base cuneate, auricle prominent, leaf number vary from 24-25 with around 10 economic leaves, spangling medium, leaf length 70-75 cm and width 40-45 cm as compared to its parent VR-2 that has plants open, slightly drooping lamina, lanceolate, green leaves with medium auricle. By cultivating this variety, Tamil Nadu chewing tobacco farmers will raise a healthy crop without application of fungicide for black shank disease and thus cutting down the cost on chemical fungicides thereby reducing production costs and increasing net returns to the growers besides being environment friendly.