Performance of new breeding lines of flue-cured tobacco and their test-hybrids for economic traits
During the 2014 and 2015 growing seasons a field trial with ten new breeding lines of flue-cured tobacco, their test-hybrids with two line testers, and two controls (the hybrid cultivar DH17 and the line cultivar NC55) was conducted in five environments (year-location combinations) in Croatia. The cultural practice applied was as recommended for commercial flue-cured tobacco production. After harvesting and curing, leaf yield (kg/ha-1), price ($/kg-1) and value ($/ha-1) were determined. Analysis of variance across environments revealed significant differences among genotypes for all traits. Compared to the corresponding breeding lines four, 15 and 10 test-hybrids had significantly higher yield, price and value, respectively. Mean yield of five breeding lines and 12 test-hybrids were significantly higher compared to the mean yield of the higher yielding control DH17. All breeding lines and nine test-hybrids had significantly lower price as compared to the better control NC55, whereas the price of the remaining eleven test-hybrids was not significantly different from the control. Mean value of six breeding lines and 17 test-hybrids was significantly higher compared to the mean value of the better performing control DH17. The value of the best four hybrids was 11-16% higher than the value of the better control.