Experiments were conducted in three consecutive seasons from 1998/99 to 2000 at Mwimba Research Station in Kasunqu, Kazomba, Kapiri and Endindeni in Mzimba, in Malawi to determine the agronomic characteristics, disease and pest reaction of twenty oriental genotypes from Greece, Turkey and South Africa. A randomised complete block design was used in the analysis of the data. Performance of the different genotypes varied among sites and over seasons. The genotypes OT 42, OT 1 and Sirndirgi produced the highest yields at Mwimba, whereas, Akhisan, Sirndirgi and Gordes did well at Kazornba in 1999. In 2000, OT 49 and Elsoma gave the largest yields at both Mwimba and Kapiri sites. In terms of disease reaction, OT 1, OT 42, Sindirgi and Gordes showed tolerance to alternaria leaf spot ( Alternaria alternata ), a score of 2 on a scale of 1 to 5; whereas, OT 49, OT 123, Elsoma, Akhisan, and Samsun were susceptible with scores of 3 and above, at all sites and in both seasons. Bushy top resistance would be most advantageous in Oriental tobacco in Malawi. Of the high yielding genotypes, Sindirgi had 5.6% and OT 1 9.2% infection, whereas, susceptible OT 62 and OT 123 had 44.2% and 31.0%, respectively. Growth characteristic data will be presented.