Root lesion nematodes and flue-cured tobacco yields in a rye-tobacco or soybean-tobacco crop sequence. (Tobacco Science)

ROOT LESION NEMATODES AND FLUE-CURED TOBACCO YIELDS IN A RYE-TOBACCO OR SOYBEAN-TOBACCO CROP SEQUENCE(1)

The root lesion nematode, Pratylenchus penetrans (Cobb), can cause significant yield losses in flue-cured tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.). The objectives of this study were to measure population levels of root lesion nematodes and tobacco yields when tobacco was grown after rye (Secale cereale L.) or soybean (Glycine max L.). Plots were set out in a completely randomized design in the tobacco growing region of eastern Prince Edward Island. In two out of three years, nematode populations were larger and tobacco yields were smaller when tobacco followed soybean rather than rye. Based on one year of data, nematode population levels in tobacco, as well as tobacco yields, were similar in a rye--tobacco crop sequence and in a soybean-barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)--tobacco crop sequence.

INTRODUCTION

Rye (Secale cereale L.) is commonly grown in rotation with tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) in the Canadian Maritime Provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island). Recently, there has been interest in using soybean (Glycine max L.) as a rotational crop with tobacco. Previous observations, however, have indicated that soybean may harbor large populations of the root lesion nematode, Pratylenchus penetrans (Cobb)[3,5,10]. This nematode species has caused yield losses to tobacco in Ontario, Canada and in several regions of …