Diseases, pests, low yields and poor quality are the major constraints in the production of burley tobacco in Malawi. The major diseases which have contributed to the low yields and quality of burley tobacco include, fusariurn wilt, wildfire, bushy top, rootknot nematodes and black shank. To address these constraints, ARET (Agricultural Research & Extension Trust) conducts research in plant breeding, agronomy, plant pathology, entomology and engineering with the objective of developing high yielding tobacco varieties of acceptable quality with resistance to most of the stated diseases and pests. During the 1999/2000 season. the programme continued breeding lines resistant to wildfire with the objective of developing varieties resistant to this disease.