Assessment of Biochemical Composition in “Yunxue No.1” Tobacco Leaf during the Air-Drying Process

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the change rule of tobacco leaf "Yunxue No. 1" during the drying process of cigar in Yunnan tobacco area. The tobacco leaves were collected at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 21 days of drying to determine the chemical composition, and the changes of carbohydrate, pigment and polyphenol substances in cigar tobacco leaves during drying time were studied. The contents of various substances such as total sugar, reducing sugar, starch, total nitrogen, nicotine, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, β-carotene, lutein, chlorogenic acid, rutin, and scopolamine within the tobacco were meticulously examined. The experimental outcomes reveal that the moisture content present within the tobacco leaves has a considerable and substantial influence on the ultimate result of the air-drying process. This impact was mediated by changes in the levels of a diverse array of chemical constituents. The concentration of nicotine was closely and intrinsically linked with the levels of four plastidic pigments, namely chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, β-carotene, and lutein. Furthermore, these four plastidic pigments mutually display a distinct and marked interdependence among themselves. In the future, subsequent research should primarily concentrate on optimizing the air-drying process of the Yunnan cigar variety "Yunxue No.1" in accordance with these firmly established rules, which will of great significance for the high-quality production in the later drying stage.