FLUE-CURED TOBACCO IN FLORIDA


 Damp-off: This disease is not common in properly managed
tobacco beds. Plants affected with damp-off turn yellow and
will show evidence of stem rot at the soil level. The disease
may reduce plant stands very rapidly and frequent observation
of the plant bed should be made during the time of seed germi-
nation. If damp-off does appear its progress can be checked
by spraying the beds with yellow cuprocide, wettable spergon
or ferbam. The use of ferbam for controlling blue mold will
help materially in controlling damping-off but the disease
usually causes the greatest loss of plants soon after they emerge,
before spraying or dusting for blue mold control is necessary.
Recommended amounts of the materials are as follows:
 Yellow cuprocide: 5 level teaspoonfuls in 61/4 gallons of
water, or 1 pound per 100 gallons of water.
 Wettable spergon: 4 ounces for 6 gallons of water, or three
to four pounds per 100 gallons of water.
 Ferbam: 11/2 ounces in 61/4 gallons of water, or 3 pounds
for 100 gallons of water. Apply 3 to 4 gallons of spray per
100 square yards if damping-off appears.

 FIELD DISEASES
 Nematodes: This parasite is not often a problem in plant
beds; however safeguards should be used in the plant beds
to prevent, or eradicate nematodes because it is very easy to
infect an entire field of tobacco with diseased plants. Methyl
bromide 1# per 100 square feet is an excellent nematocide
and will also control weeds. D-D and ethylene dibromide, used
at the rate of 3 to 4 quarts per 100 square yards, will also
provide good control. There is no substitute for good healthy
tobacco plants.
 Blackshank: A disease which has been reported and ob-
served in plants throughout the flue-cured area of Florida.
However, it has not become established as a serious problem
outside of the shade tobacco area. This disease is capable
of attacking both the under and above ground portions of the
plant.
 There are resistant varieties such as DB-101 which could
be grown provided the disease did become a serious problem.
 Granville wilt: This is a bacterial disease which attacks
the roots primarily and then progresses as a dark brown streak