Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) remains North Carolina's most economically important agronomic crop, with the state leading U.S. tobacco production. Flue-cured tobacco accounts for the majority of the state's tobacco, typically grown in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain areas. As the tobacco plants ripen, leaves are pulled from the stalk and cured in barns using heat and air. Burley tobacco, grown in the mountains, is harvested by cutting the stalk and curing it without heat. Tobacco faces significant disease threats, with annual statewide losses as high as 15%. Key diseases include viruses, soil-borne fungi, and soil-borne bacteria.
Tobacco Disease and IPM Information
Tobacco Problem Diagnosis Services
- Plant Disease and Insect Clinic for disease and problem diagnosis
- NCDA&CS Agronomic Services for tissue, solution, and nematode assays
