Agronomic Attributes of Drought Resistance Mechanism In Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.)

Abstract

The expressivity of the agronomical traits viz., days to flower, plant height, num-ber of curable leaves, leaf area, cured leaf yield and non-wilting score of 17 tobacco genotypes in relation to three soil moisture levels observed from a 2-season, i.e., E₁ and E2 study is reported. The irrigation levels were nonsignificant for all traits. Differences due to years were significant for days to flower and all genotypes flowered earlier during drought year. The genotypes differed for all traits. The significant interaction between genotypes and years revealed the possibility to select genotypes with regard to different traits for normal season or drought season or even to se-lect genotypes nonsensitive to seasonal fluctuations. The bidi tobacco genotypes G1, G2, G3, G4, G6, G7 and G10 having non-wilting ability were found to be drought resistant.