Variation Trend of Chemical Components in Main Vein of Procured Tobacco

PurposeIn order to provide a reference for tobacco stem differentiation processing and classification, investigate the trend of chemical components of main vein in procured tobacco.

MethodEach main stem of tobacco leaf vein was stripped completely and divided into six segments on average from base to tip of tobacco stem (TS1-TS6). The routine chemical components, non-volatile organic acids, cellulose, lignin and pectin of each segment tobacco stem were determined. One-way ANOVA and regression analysis were used to analyze the difference and variation trend of above chemical components in different stem segments. Systematic cluster analysis was carried out based on three kind chemical indexes mentioned above.

Results(1) There was a significant difference and regular trend in the content of each chemical compound in different stem segments. (2) From the base to tip of tobacco stem, the content of total sugar decreased significantly. The content of reducing sugar, potassium ion and cellulose increased first and then decreased. The content of total nitrogen, nicotine and lignin decreased first and then increased. The content of chloride ion presented a decrease trend gradually with a parabolic type. The total content of non-volatile organic acids presented an increase trend gradually with a parabolic type. The content of pectin increased linearly. (3) According to the results of the cluster analysis based on the above three kinds chemical indexes and tobacco stem samples in six different segments were clustered into three categories (TS1-TS3, TS4-TS5, TS6).

ConclusionThe trend of chemical components and clustering results in different tobacco stem segments provided a reference for differentiation processing and classification of tobacco stem.