Growth responses of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) varieties to water logging stress

Having high economic value makes tobacco becomes favorite industrial crop cultivated in Indonesia. However, several negative environmental conditions, including heavy rainfall season, affect the successfulness of tobacco cultivation. Heavy rainfall season is the major cause of waterlogging stress, which affect plant productivity. This study aims to determine the growth responses of some tobacco varieties under waterlogging stress and to evaluate its tolerance against waterlogging stress. Five tobacco varieties were used in this study, including var. Bligon 1, Bojonegoro 1, Grompol Jatim 1, Kemloko 1 and Prancak 95. The results were analyzed using two way Anova test and followed by Tukey test. The results showed that waterlogging stress decreased plant growth, induced the formation of aerenchyma tissues and adventitious root. In addition, this environmental stress also induced stomatal closure. In this present study, we observed that var. Bligo 1 and Grompol Jatim 1 are medium tolerant against waterlogging stress. Meanwhile, var. Bojonegoro 1 is considered as tolerant variety. Furthermore, the rest of tobacco varieties are sensitive to waterlogging stress. The overall results demonstrated waterlogging stress affect plant growth; induce stomatal closure, adventitious root and aerenchyma root formation. Moreover, each tobacco variety showed different level of tolerance against waterlogging stress.