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Flowers and Suckers
During the appropriate periods, the percent of buttoning and degree of sucker control can be
evaluated at the stops made for insect checks or as you move from one stop to another. The first
application of a contact sucker control agent should be made when 50 percent of the plants are in
the button or elongated button stage. Topping should be done immediately after this application.
Because fields are checked only once a week, scouts should count plants as buttoning at an early button stage. This will allow adequate lead time for grower response. Scouts should record the number of plants with buttons visible within the bud (prebutton stage or larger). Under favorable growing conditions, a plant can reach the button stage five to seven days after the prebutton stage.
Sucker control should be evaluated after topping. Scouts should look for missed suckers. An additional application of a contact-sucker control chemical should be made before the missed suckers reach 1 inch in length. After the suckers are 1 inch long or longer, chemical control is unlikely to be successful.
If premature flowering is observed early in the season, the number of prematurely flowered plants in each sample should be recorded.
Early flowering usually looks worse than it really is. Unless at least 10 percent of the crop flowers
early, do nothing but folIow normal practices because yield will not be substantially reduced. If
over 10 percent premature flowering occurs, do not plow up the crop and start over without
consulting your county Extension agent. Plowing up is usually the last resort because replanting
will add to production costs and increase the chance of lower yield. Topping and turning out a sucker
is usually the most practical option, but be sure to follow suggested practices to reduce the spread
of mosaic.
 Scouting for Insect Pests |
Scouting Common Tobacco Diseases |