Effects of Different Baking Processes on Carotenoid Content in Upper Leaves of Fluecured Tobacco

[Objective] We aimed to improve the quality of flue-cured tobacco with K326 upper leaves and explore the optimal tobacco baking process in Chongqing tobacco-producing region. [Method] Four different baking processes （endogenetic force moisture-removing flue-curing technique, exogenetic force moisture-removing flue-curing technique, three-stage flue-curing process, three-stage and six-step flue- curing process） were adopted in this research to investigate the effects of different baking processes on carotenoid content of same-maturity degree upper leaves of the flue-cured tobacco K326. [Result] The results showed at the yellowing and color fixing stages, the carotenoids were most fully decomposed in endogenetic force moisture-removing flue-curing technique. The decomposed carotenoid content was lowest in exogenetic force moisture-removing flue-curing technique, for which the carotenoid content was highest （50.53 mg/g）. [Conclusion] At the yellowing and color fixing stages, exogenetic force moisture-removing flue-curing technique was most conducive to the carotenoid accumulation in tobacco baking process.

Three-Stage Six-Step Flue-Curing Technology for Viginia Tobacco Leaves and Its Application in China

In order to overcome the problem that the leaf yellowing stage in tobacco curing reduces the fragrance of the product, this study introduced the principle and key parameters of a three-stage six-step curing technology. The field trail was conducted in Wulong county of Chongqing city in 2010, and Virginia K326 was the tested cultivar. The middle leaves were harvested and plaited after maturity, and then cured with the three-stage six-step curing technology and traditional three-stage curing technology, respectively. Three replicates were established for each of the two curing technologies. Then, chemical constituents, aromatic substances and smoking quality were analyzed. The results show that compared with the traditional three-stage curing technology, the three-stage six-step curing technology produces more suitable ratios of chemical constituents, higher aromatic component content and higher smoking quality grade of tobacco leaves. Therefore, the continuous improvement of corollary equipment and matching technologies is expected to widen the applications of the three-stage six-step curing technology in tobacco and provide a strong technical support for the development of the tobacco industry.