Analysis of Main Chemical Components and Quality of Different Tobacco Varieties in Yuxi

Abstract

In order to have a sound grasp of the quality characteristics of flue-cured tobacco in Yuxi and provide data support for tobacco planting, tobacco blending and cigarette manufacturing, the main chemical components in 25 430 samples of 5 cultivars(K326, KRK26, NC297, NC71 and Hongda)collected from 9areas in Yuxi, Yunnan from 2009 to 2012 were determined, and the variance analysis of chemical and harmonious indexes was performed. The appearance quality and sensory quality of samples of the 5cultivars from 2012 were evaluated. The results showed that: 1)The contents of nicotine, total sugar,chlorine and potassium of flue-cured tobacco from Yuxi were basically in the appropriate ranges required by Hongta Tobacco(Group) Corporation, however the difference between total sugar and reducing sugar and the ratio of non-nicotine N to total N were not all up to the required targets. 2)The cultivars were different in chemistry and harmony, K326 was higher in chlorine content and lower in potassium content;KRK26 presented higher sugar, chlorine, potassium contents, lower total nitrogen content, smaller ratios of total nitrogen/nicotine, potassium/chlorine, non-nicotine nitrogen/total nitrogen, and greater difference between total sugar and reducing sugar; NC297 presented lower chlorine content, smaller ratios of total nitrogen/nicotine and non-nicotine nitrogen/total nitrogen, larger difference between total sugar and reducing sugar; NC71 possessed higher nicotine and nitrogen contents, lower sugar content, smaller ratio of sugar/nicotine and difference between total sugar and reducing sugar; Hongda possessed lower nicotine and chlorine contents, higher reducing sugar content, larger ratios of sugar/nicotine, total nitrogen/nicotine,non-nicotine nitrogen/total nitrogen, and smaller difference between total sugar and reducing sugar. 3)The appearance quality of the 5 cultivars was good in general, though there existed some differences between cultivars. The comprehensive sensory quality of the 5 cultivars was good, each cultivar held special character of its own and satisfied the requirements of Hongta Group for tobacco leaves.