DISEASE RESISTANCE 
Coker 139, one of two new tobaccos, will be released 
this year for the 1955 growing season. It is a hybrid 
involving Golden Cure, Golden Wilt, Dixie Bright 101 
and Oxford 1-181, and incorporates the best qualities of 
The Golden Cure 
and Golden Wilt parents are two more recent varieties de- 
each of these outstanding varieties. 
veloped by Coker’s Pedigreed Seed Company, while Dixie 
Bright 101 and Oxford 1-181 are black shank resistant 
lines developed by the North Carolina and South Caro- 
lina Experiment Stations, respectively, cooperating with 
the United States Department of Agriculture. Coker 139 
is a compact type producing around 30 leaves on a four 
and one-half to five foot high plant. Leaves are broad, 
like Golden Cure, and do not break 
easily in the field or during harvest- 
ing and stringing. 
DISEASE RESISTANCE 
Coker 139 was bred on the most 
severely diseased soil available and 
has shown very high resistance to ; 
5 = resistance. 
the black shank disease in tests lo- 
cated in North Carolina and Vir- 
The black shank re- 
sistance is higher than that of any variety that we have 
ginia on black shank infested soil. 
tested thus far. In most of these locations the root knot 
nematode was also present. Indications are that this to- 
bacco has some tolerance to nematodes which may in turn 
contribute some toward the high black shank resistance. 
It also has fairly high resistance to the Granville wilt 
disease. We have lost little or no plants in our Granville 
wilt nursery located in Durham County, North Carolina. 
This nursery is also heavily infested with the root knot 
nematode. Comparatively high resistance to leaf spots, 
even in late season, is characteristic of Coker 139. 
YIELD AND QUALITY 
Coker 139 has given unusually high yields on both 
diseased soil and disease free soil. It is rather late bloom- 
ing and compared to other standard varieties has a com- 
IMPORTANT NOTE 
Although Coker 139 was bred on soils 
severely infested with black shank and has 
shown high resistance on such soils in all 
of disease or combination of conditions 
might occur so as to affect tolerance or 
[4] 
paratively low sucker index, that is, it usually produces 
fewer suckers than other varieties that we have grown 
or tested. 
The cured leaf has a comparatively low nicotine con- 
tent, about like Golden Cure, and an average amount of 
sugar and other constituents which contribute to good 
smoking qualities. 
floors. 
Sales have been good on the warehouse 
EASE OF CURING 
This tobacco cures easier than any other tobacco 
that we have ever bred or tested. Golden Cure has al- 
ways been easy to handle in this respect, but the Coker 
139 cures even easier over a wide range of growing 
and handling conditions. It can be harvested either a little 
green or overripe, and still come out of the curing barn 
a good lemon color. Like any other 
tobacco, should be 
cropped when ripe, but there are 
no particular details involved in 
handling. 
however, it 
locations tested we cannot guarantee per- 
formance since it is possible that new strains 
CHARACTERISTICS 
Disease Resistance: High  resist- 
ance to black shank, moderate re- 
sistance to wilt. 
Curing: 
Leaf: Compact type. Leaves closely spaced on the stalk, 
averaging 2 inches or less apart. Should produce around 
30 leaves on 4% to 5 foot high plant. Leaves not brittle. 
Does not break up in handling the green leaf. 
Stalk: Stem medium large contributing to good storm re- 
sistance and good feeding habits. 
Bloom: Medium to late blooming and record indicates 
does not button or bloom prematurely under adverse 
weather conditions. 
Yield: High yields, leading our tests. 
Quality: Good quality acceptable to manufacturers for 
cigarette production. Moderately low nicotine content. 
Adaptability: Adaptable to wide range of soil and 
climatic conditions. Produces exceptionally well on either 
diseased soil or disease-free soil. 
Fasy to cure like Golden Cure parent. 
Price: $5.00 per ounce postpaid. 
*Registered U. S. Patent office. 
