PETROLEUM ETHER EXTRACTABLES IN GREEN AND CURED BURLEY TOBACCO DOUBLED HAPLOIDS

Abstract

The petroleum ether extractable (PEE) fraction of burley tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) was studied in doubled haploid lines. The fraction contains components, such as neophytadiene, that are associated with flavor and aroma, and some that contribute to biological activity of tobacco smoke. The PEE contents of 355 haploid plants ranged from 34 to 67 mg/g of dry matter. Doubled haploids derived from haploid plants that ranked at the high and low ends of the range were grown under greenhouse and field conditions, and were sampled at harvest and after conventional air-curing. Total PEE concentrations remained different for the two groups of doubled haploids within each year and location; however, concentrations for both groups decreased during conventional air-curing, and 1979 field-grown cured leaves had less than cured leaves from the 1980 season. Neophytadiene content of field-grown, air-cured tobacco was greatly influenced by environment. Concentration was almost double in 1980 relative to 1979, and nearly tripled during curing. The normal, iso and anteiso classes of the total saturated hydrocarbons occurred in relatively the same percentages in green or cured field-grown tobacco leaves and with no apparent pattern according to the PEE groupings. Doubled haploids and controlled environments offer a means to study effects of individual environmental parameters on changes in amount and composition of the PEE fraction.Key words: Nicotiana tabacum L., burley tobacco, doubled haploids, neophytadiene, C25-C33 hydrocarbons