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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Ithaca, New York » Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture & Health » Emerging Pests and Pathogens Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #420212
Research Project: Biology and Management of Invasive Plant Pathogens Affecting Potato and Soybean

Location: Emerging Pests and Pathogens Research

Title: The effect of tillage and cover cropping systems on yield, quality, and Agular Leaf Spot in dark tobacco production in Tennessee

Author
item THELIN, ALYSSA - UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
item SAHA, DEBASISH - UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
item HANSEN, ZACHARIAH
item SYKES, VIRGINIA - UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
item RICHMOND, MITCHELL - UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE

Submitted to: Coresta Congress Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/2/2024
Publication Date: 10/16/2024
Citation: Thelin, A., Saha, D., Hansen, Z.R., Sykes, V., Richmond, M.D. 2024. The effect of tillage and cover cropping systems on yield, quality, and Agular Leaf Spot in dark tobacco production in Tennessee. Coresta Congress Proceedings. CORTESA Congress 2024.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Angular Leaf Spot (ALS) (Psuedomonas syringae pv. tabaci) has become an increasingly important issue to tobacco producers in the Mid-South region since 2015. Current recommendations for the control and spread of ALS are selection of tobacco varieties with low susceptibility and the use of chemical preventions, such as agricultural streptomycin. Cover crops have proven to be beneficial at decreasing weed biomass, improving soil health, and reducing soil borne pathogens in many crops. The objectives of this project are to evaluate the impact of cover crops and tillage type in tobacco production systems on ALS occurrence, tobacco yield, and leaf quality. Field plots were arranged in a split block design with four replications. Tillage type (conventional and no tillage) was applied to the main plot and cover crop treatment (cereal rye, crimson clover, hairy vetch, and fallow) to the sub-plot. Field inoculations of ALS were applied to tobacco in 2022 and 2023 at growth stages 1108 to 1110. Inoculated tobacco was harvested and left in the experimental area to serve as ALS inoculum for the following tobacco crop. The disease index was rated using a combination of incidence and severity ranging from zero to 100. The average disease index value of ALS following the completion of the first growing season (2022-2023) was 8. Cover crops were planted and rated monthly for canopy coverage and weed percent. Tobacco yield was impacted by tillage type, but disease progression was not statistically influenced by cover crop or tillage type during the first year of this study. Research has explored mostly chemical control methods of ALS with limited success. Additional research studying the impacts of other methods, such as cultural methods, should be conducted.