EFFECT OF LOWER LEAF REMOVAL ON WRAPPER LEAF PRODUCTION IN CONNECTICUT BROADLEAF TOBACCO

In recent years, there has been increased demand for natural leaf cigar wrappers. The Connecticut River Valley has seen a decrease in production of cigar tobacco, causing tobacco dealers to seek other places to produce Connecticut Broadleaf cigar wrapper tobacco. Kentucky and Tennessee have been of recent interest as a new area for Connecticut Broadleaf production. Field trials were established in 2022 and 2023 at Mayfield, KY and Springfield, TN to evaluate effects of lower leaf removal on wrapper leaf production. Treatments included lower leaf removal at 4 levels (no leaf removal, leaf removal at layby, leaf removal at topping, or lower leaf removal at harvest) and fungicide treatment at 2 levels (fungicide application vs. no fungicide application). Lower leaf removal resulted in significant reductions in total yield and did not increase wrapper leaf grades at either location in either year. There were no significant differences observed in gross revenue due to lower leaf removal at the Mayfield KY location, however, phytotoxicity from azoxystrobin applications at topping resulted in significant decreases in wrapper leaf grades and gross revenue at Mayfield in 2023. Lower leaf removal also resulted in significant reductions in gross revenue at the Springfield, TN location in 2022. Based on these data, lower leaf removal would not be recommended as a means of increasing wrapper leaf production or revenue in Connecticut Broadleaf cigar wrapper tobacco grown in Kentucky or Tennessee.