Efficacy of various suckericides for sucker control in flue-cured virginia tobacco

Experiments were conducted during 2004 and 2005 at Tobacco Research Sub-Station Mansehra to assess the efficacy of four suckericides for the control of suckers in flue cured tobacco. The growth of suckers was effectively controlled by all the suckericides as the number and the fresh weight of suckers was lower and tobacco yield was higher as compared to hand desuckering. Stomp 33 EC was found to be the most effective for suppressing the growth of suckers followed by Pendimethalin, Miyalang 2 and Tamex. Chemical analysis of cured leaves showed non-significant differences among treatments, Nicotine content was highest in stomp whereas maximum reducing sugar was recorded in Pendimethalin than other treatments.