Standing water can drown tobacco within a 12-hour period.  However, soils that stay saturated for a period of time can also cause root collapse and tissue death in plant stalks.  In both cases tobacco may flop, a condition where leaves droop down the stalk.  Drowned tobacco will not recover, but tobacco with wet feet may recover during the night.  Wet feet is a different degree of the same problem.  Tobacco close to harvest should be harvested quickly to prevent further loss.  However, if sunscald has occured, a three day period is needed to bleach damaged tissue to prevent green in the cured leaf.  Rot may develop on the damaged tobacco if it allowed to stand for a long period before harvest.

(Photo courtesy of Doug Shepherd, Hardin County, Kentucky)