D3246: Deterrent effect of ground tobacco on mollusks

Ground tobacco (stalk and leaves) was evaluated as a deterrent to mollusk attacks. We completed choice tests (tobacco vs. soil mix), and tobacco substrate alone using juvenile and adult snails. Overall, snails avoided gliding on tobacco, they became less active and buried themselves in soil when choice test was applied. Adult snails kept on tobacco substrate alone stayed on the top of carrot disks or Petri dish walls and lids, whereas immatures withdrew in their shells and did not move. Snails become active once transferred to a blend of soil, moss and carbon.