Number and weight of leaf axil suckers per plant of 15 varieties and one breeding line were studied in plantings at two locations and over 2 years. The range of performance and consistency across environments were measured in an effort to characterize the suckering characteristics of the varieties and to determine if genetic variation existed. Among the varieties tested, sucker weight varied 60% and sucker number 53% Coker 319 appeared to produce more suckers than certain other varieties in number and weight, whereas Speight G-23 and Virginia 115 produced less.

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