Based on dealer seed sales, county Cooperative Extension Service agents estimated the following plantings of flue-cured varieties in North Carolina in 2000: NC 71 (36 percent); K 326 (27 percent); K 346 (16 percent); NC 72 (5 percent); Speight 168 (4 percent); and all others (12 percent). Plantings of K 326 decreased noticeably for the fourth consecutive year; growers are selecting other high-yielding varieties with improved disease resistance.

Results of the 2000 Official Variety Tests, including information on four of the five new varieties, are shown in Table 3-1 (NC 100 is a new variety that was not included in the 2000 Official Variety Tests, therefore data are not provided in Table 3-1.) Disease resistance levels for black shank and Granville wilt are expressed numerically. Lower numbers indicate higher resistance to these diseases. Black shank data are from fields with primarily race 0 black shank, but some fields contained both races 0 and 1. Disease ratings for the new varieties are based on limited data and may change after more test data become available. As in past years, seed of new varieties will only be available as pellets.

NC 100 is a hybrid variety developed by Earl Wernsman at North Carolina State University and available from F.W. Rickard Seeds in Winchester, KY. Data were not available from the 2000 Official Variety Tests. However, based on 1999 data, resistance to both black shank and Granville wilt was rated as low. It is resistant to tobacco mosaic virus and races 1 and 3 of southern root-knot nematode. Yield and other agronomic characteristics were similar to NC 71 (also based on 1999 tests).

NC 297 is a hybrid variety developed by Earl Wernsman at North Carolina State University and available from Gold Leaf Seed Co. in Hartsville, SC. It had a black shank resistance rating of 6 and a Granville wilt resistance rating of 41 in 2000 tests. It is resistant to tobacco mosaic virus and races 1 and 3 of southern root-knot nematode. In 2000 tests, yield was high, similar to that of NC 72, with a slightly lower grade index value.

NC 606 is a conventional variety developed by Verne Sisson at North Carolina State University and available from Raynor Seed Co. in Rocky Mount, NC. In 2000 tests, it had a black shank resistance rating of 18 and a Granville wilt resistance rating of 30. It is resistant to races 1 and 3 of southern root-knot nematode. In 2000 tests, yield was slightly lower than that of K 346, but grade index values were very high.

Speight H20 is a hybrid variet y developed by Speight Seed Farm in Winterville, NC. It had a black shank resistance rating of 7 and a Granville wilt resistance rating of 32. It is resistant to tobacco mosaic virus and races 1 and 3 of southern root-knot nematode. In 2000 tests, Speight H20 was similar to K 346 for most agronomic characteristics, with the exception of slightly lower yields.

Seeds of RG H4, RG H51, and OX 414 NF will not be available for the 2001 growing season; therefore, these varieties are not listed in Table 3-1. Seeds of a conventional variety (GL 737) developed by and available from Gold Leaf Seed Co. in Hartsville, SC, will not be sold for the 2001 season. Gold Leaf will supply some interested growers with small, sample packets of pelleted seed for further evaluation. Disease resistance data were not available from 2000 tests for GL 737, but in 1999 tests, resistance to blank shank was rated high and resistance to Granville wilt was rated moderate to low. It is resistant to races 1 and 3 of southern root-knot nematode. In 2000 tests, yield, grade index, and other agronomic characteristics were similar to those of Coker 371-Gold.

Plant only a limited acreage of any new variety until more experience and information become available from a wider range of soil, climatic, and disease conditions.

Table 3-1. Variety Data from the 2000 Official Variety Tests Conducted by the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service

Variety	Yield (lb/a)	Price ($/cwt)	Value ($/a)	Grade Indexa	Resistance Ratingsb				Leaves per Plant	Plant Height (in.)	Days to Flower	Leaf Spacing (in.)
					BSc	GW	RKd	Mosaic
Coker 371	2150	171.2	3689	75	9	42	SU	SU	17.7	37	69	2.11
GL 939	2406	171.2	4122	73	29	30	RES	SU	19.6	38	70	1.92
*GL 737	2077	171.6	3574	76	**	**	RES	SU	19.2	40	68	2.12
K 149	2270	171.8	3904	72	35	25	RES	SU	19.1	40	69	2.09
K 326	2639	172.0	4543	73	52	48	RES	SU	18.8	38	71	2.04
K 346	2534	172.4	4372	72	18	32	RES	SU	20.0	41	67	2.04
K 358	2404	173.1	4168	77	37	32	RES	SU	19.1	39	71	2.05
K 394	2438	168.9	4112	68	20	56	SU	SU	18.8	39	71	2.08
K 399	2464	170.1	4202	67	19	35	RES	SU	19.4	38	68	1.94
K 730	2403	172.2	4134	74	48	39	RES	SU	19.0	38	69	2.02
NC 55	2743	174.9	4792	79	59	52	RES	SU	19.1	38	69	1.98
NC 71	2822	172.6	4876	72	9	45	RES	SU	18.3	37	70	2.03
NC 72	2706	173.4	4706	74	5	51	RES	SU	18.8	41	71	2.18
*NC 297	2704	171.6	4668	68	6	41	RES	RES	18.8	39	68	2.07
*NC 606	2377	174.2	4144	81	18	30	RES	SU	18.2	39	69	2.16
OX 207	2181	169.3	3701	68	19	23	RES	SU	18.6	37	72	1.98
RG 17	2508	172.4	4325	74	37	31	RES	SU	18.7	39	70	2.07
RG 81	2611	172.1	4500	69	50	46	RES	SU	18.9	39	69	2.06
RG H12	2264	169.1	3842	70	30	43	RES	SU	19.4	38	70	1.97
RG H61	2401	170.8	4122	70	36	46	RES	SU	18.8	40	68	2.13
*Speight H20	2422	171.0	4150	73	7	32	RES	RES	19.1	42	68	2.17
Speight 168	2503	170.6	4300	69	3	23	RES	SU	18.4	40	69	2.18
Speight 179	2566	172.8	4444	73	2	28	RES	SU	18.6	38	71	2.05
Speight NF 3e	2561	173.4	4444	76	17	33	RES	SU	19.1	39	71	2.05
Averages	2467	171.9	4251	73	-	-	-	-	19.0	39	70	2.06

* New varieties for 2001.
** Data not available from 2000 tests. 1999 results indicate high resistance to BS, moderate to low resistance to GW.
Note: Agronomic data collected by Daryl Bowman and Glen Tart (North Carolina State University Crop Science Dept.); disease information from T.A. Melton (North Carolina State University Plant Pathology Dept.).
^aGrade Index is a 1-100 rating based on government grades; 100 = best quality.
^bRES = Resistant; SU = Susceptible; BS = black shank; GW = Granville wilt; RK = root-knot (Lower numbers indicate higher resistance.)
^cBlack shank data are from fields with primarily race 0, but some fields contained both races 0 and 1.
^dResistance only to races 1 and 3 of Meloidogyne incognita; all varieties are susceptible to races 2 and 4 and other Meloidogyne species.
^eNF = Nonflowering until late summer. Plants should be topped when 20 to 22 harvestable leaves are present.

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