Wildfire is an important disease that reduces yields of susceptible flue-cured tobacco varieties. The disease occurs in all areas of the country especially where tobacco has been grown for a long time. Breeding for resistance to the disease is therefore important and in 1999/2000 several F6 populations were subjected to natural disease pressure to select the resistance lines. Thirty-eight lines were planted in single rows each with thirty plants at Mitundu and Santhe for screening against natural infection of wildfire. The two sites were chosen based on the epidemiology of the disease the previous season. The breeding lines used and their parentage are presented in Table 1.2.20. The dry weather that persisted at the two sites suppressed disease expression. Therefore, it was not possible to make selections based on disease reaction. However. a few plants from each row were bagged for progression of these lines to filial seven (F7). The F7 populations will be subjected to both artificial and natural inoculation during the coming season to speed up the selection process.