Mr. J.W. Drummond T.G. Mitchell
L,-`Mr. A.L. Heard
TGM/8TM 10 July 1990
Tobacco Germolasm
In the past few weeks I have been approached by 2
people on the potential need
for an initiative by the industry to sustain
developments of tobacco varieties. They
are D.L. Davis of Reynolds and H.D. Papenfus of
Rothmans.
The first is proposing some action in the USA to
ensure first of all that existing
germplasm is not lost and secondly that the
wherewithal exists into the future to
develop new varieties for new needs. The reasons
advanced are:
(a) Lack of interest by the seed companies and
their withdrawal to a large extent
from tobacco programmes, and
(b) Lack of within - University support and
Federal support for tobacco variety
development in academic institutes. In particular,
NCSU, U of K and USDA
are cited as major centres of activity in the past
but with little continuity of
effort on tobacco today.
Davis is trying to sound out the possibility of an
industry-funded trust programme
to ensure that the position does not further
deteriorate. In the short-term it is claimed
that various breeding lines with, for example,
blue-mould resistance have been
developed, but are now in effect abandoned in the
USA. Pressures on use of
chemicals, with the parallel absence of an
altemative route to off-setting them, are
an added issue.
Papenfus, for less specific reasons, is suggesting
some action supported through
CORESTA, with objectives which I presume would
overlap with the US proposal.
It is possible that he will raise this for
discussion in Greece at the Scientific
Commission or in open session. The RJR thoughts
would be more likely discussed
at the Tobacco Workers' Conference next January,
if at all.
G=
cont'd/...
CC
BATCo document for Province of British Columbia 25
October 1999


I see little of value coming from any CORESTA
action under present arrangements
for several years, whilst the spectre of
limitations on germplasm distribution from
the US remains as a disincentive except for
national concerns there.
Nevertheless, the worries underlying such
proposals as expressed by others
deserve attention. So far, we have been able to
rely on external sources for both
variety improvement and seed sourcing. It must be
questionable for how long this
will remain, quite apart from proposals for
radical improvement to varieties. Isthere
a Group strategy for this topic? If so, I would
appreciate any guidance on responding
to these external enquiries.
T.G. Mitchell
Zz:.
BATCo document for Province of British Columbia 25
October 1999