Physiological Study of Tobacco

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) an important non-food narcotic cash crop, belongs to the family Solanaceae, is believed to be introduced in India from its native Central America by Portuguese in 1603. Amongst the 66 known species of Nicotiana, N. tabacum and N. rustica are the cultivated ones. Nicotiana tabacum L is grown all over the country, while N. rustica is confined mainly to the northern and north eastern areas of the country. In India, tobacco is grown mainly in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Bihar, Maharashtra, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana. Rustica tobacco is locally known as calcutti tobacco. It use in chewing and snuffing purpose. The plants of rustica tobacco are stocky, more bushy in nature and shorter in height (90-120 cm). The leaves are large and broad and ovate in shape and always possess a petiole. Flowers occur in clusters and are of dull greenish-yellow colour. The nicotine content of leaves of N. rustica, it varies from 3.5 to 8.0%. it is grown on heavy and low-lying soils. It is used extensively for hookah, chewing and snuff purposes.