In tobacco, the basic aim of topping and desuckering is to:

✅Explanation:
Topping in tobacco involves removing the terminal bud or flower head of the plant. Desuckering is the removal of unwanted side shoots (suckers) that grow between the leaves and the main stem. Both these practices aim to redirect the plant's energy and resources away from flower production and towards the development of larger and thicker leaves. This is because the leaves are the commercially valuable part of the tobacco plant, containing the desired nicotine and other compounds.