Breeding and development of flue-cured tobacco cultivar ‘Moskuaka 85)

Abstract

Abstract ‘Moskuaka 85’, a new cultivar of flue-cured tobacco, was developed for New Zealand growing conditions. It has resistance to three important diseases affecting tobacco grown in New Zealand: tobacco mosaic virus (TMV); black root rot; and verticillium wilt. ‘Moskuaka 85’ was derived from a cross made in 1973 between a TMV resistant Taiwanese flue-cured cultivar and a New Zealand breeding line resistant to black root rot and verticillium wilL Resistance screening for the three diseases was performed from the F2 to F6 generations of the cross using standard pedigree breeding procedures. Twenty F7 lines were evaluated for agronomic, chemical, and physical characters. Eight F8 lines were entered in regional small-plot trials. After three seasons of evaluations at three sites, two F11, lines were tested in large-scale (2 ha) trials. ‘Moskuaka 85’ was released in 1985 as an F13, line.