The net photosynthetic rate (PN), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), stomatal conductance (gs), transpiration rate (E), water use efficiency (WUE), and leaf biomass production of four American flue-cured tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) cultivars K 326, K 358, and Speight G 28 were compared with three local Indian cultivars 16/103, Special FCV, and PCT-7, during 1994 and 1995 crop seasons under irrigated and rainfed production systems (Northern light soils, NLS, and Karnataka light soils, KLS) in India. By comparison, the American tobacco cv. K 326 showed the highest PN and gs. A positive correlation was found between PN and biomass production in all the varieties tested (r = 0.55 in NLS and 0.73 in KLS). The American cultivars were superior than the local cultivars in their biomass production and PN under Indian farming conditions. and P. Srinivas, B. N. Smith, P. M. Swamy.