Efficiency of using Cultimar plant growth stimulator as a basic element in tobacco growing technology (Nicotiana tabacum)

The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of the Cultimar growth stimulator on tobacco plants (seed sowing properties, seedling quality, crop yield and chemical composition of tobacco raw materials). The study was conducted at the All-Russian Research Institute of Tobacco, Shag and Tobacco Products in 2020-2021 in the Krasnodar Region. Laboratory tests have established the effective concentrations of the drug: 0.0001 % - 1 h; 0.001 % - 3 h; 0.0005 % - 3 h; 0.005 % - 6 h. Soaking Virginia 202 tobacco seeds in aqueous solutions of the stimulator increases seed germination energy by 13-20 %; germination rate - by 11-18 %; weight of 12-day-old tobacco seedlings - by 20-39 %. Sowing of treated seeds together with double spraying of plants in the main development phases "ears" and "seedlings suitable for planting" with stimulator solutions in the same concentrations increases the length of plants from the root collar to the growth point by 21-33 %, to the end of elongated leaves - by 12-28 %; stem diameter at the root collar - by 32-49 %; root system volume - by 25 %; fresh weight of the above-ground part of 25 plants - by 30-69 %, roots - by 38-69 %. The yield of seedlings suitable for planting in field conditions increases by 27-44 %. Tobacco survival rate in the field reaches 95-97 %, the height on the 45th day after planting increases by 25 %, by 13 % by the end of the harvesting period, the area of the leaves of the midle tier - by 12 %. Dry matter accumulation increases by 13-28 %, yield by 18-38 %. The proposed methods (pre-sowing soaking of tobacco seeds and double treatment of seedlings with the Cultimar stimulant) increase the nicotine content in tobacco raw materials by 12 %, carbohydrates - by 64 %, the resulting raw materials are of high quality. The best results were noted with pre-sowing treatment of tobacco seeds in an aqueous solution concentration of 0.001 % with an exposure of 3 hours and double spraying of seedlings in the "ears" and "suitable for planting" phases with a solution with a concentration of 0.001 % (at a dose of 1 l/m2).