SCREENING FOR DISEASE AND ROOTKNOT (Meloidogyne Javanica) RESISTANCE ON LOCAL TOBACCO LANDRACES (Nicotiana Tabacum L.)

ABSTRACT

Thirty local tobacco landraces collected from non-traditional tobacco belt of Zimbabwe, such as Binga, Mutoko and Masvingo were screened for resistance against Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV), Potato Virus Y (PVY) and rootknot nematodes (RKN). The thrust of the study was to assess the level of resistance of the landraces to these major diseases of economic importance in tobacco. A standard flue cured tobacco (FCT) variety KE1, which is susceptible to all tobacco diseases was used as a positive control. The landraces were raised in the greenhouse where standard cultural and maintenance procedures were carried out. The specimens were then artificially inoculated for TMV, PVY and RKN then assessed for resistance. Significant genotypic variation was observed amongst the landraces. There were significant differences (P