Field experiments were conducted in Kentucky and Tennessee in 1956-1968 to evaluate the effects of chemical agents for sucker control on fire-cured tobacco. Maleic hydrazide, a systemic type agent, and three contact type agents, methyl caprate, a mixture of fatty alcohols (1-decanol and 1 octanol) and Penar were used in the studies. Maleic hydrazide gave the highest degree of sucker control (92 to 99%) followed by the fatty alcohols (82-90%), methyl caprate (77-79%) and Penar (76-80%). The yield and acre value of tobacco treated with Penar were significantly lower at both locations than the yield and value for the other chemical agents. The value per 100 pounds was not significantly affected by chemical treatments when compared with hand suckered tobacco. The chemicals gave only slight or no leaf injury.

(Full article published with kind permission from "Tobacco International")