The Characteristics of Tobacco Thickness in Hubei Province

PurposeDetermining the characteristics of thickness of flue-cured tobacco leaves in Hubei Province in order to provide a better guidance for classification measurements.

MethodTotal 600 pieces of flue-cured tobacco leaves examined in five physiological parts utilized a multi-point drilling technique to determine thickness and “body difference”.

Result(1) The order of thickness of tobacco leaves was: parietal＞upper two-shed＞cutters＞lower two-shed＞bottom. Leaf block thickness gradually increased from base to medium, and gradually thinned after reaching optimal thickness value. (2) Characteristics of tobacco leaf thickness: bottom leaves were “thin and even”. Lower two-shed leaves were “slightly thinner than an entire leaf, thin base and thick upper”. Cutters were “moderate thickness, thin base, thick and even from medium up”. Upper two-shed leaves were “slightly thicker than an entire leaf, base tip with minor differences, thick and even from medium up”, and the parietal leaves were “thick and even”. (3) “Body difference” of tobacco leaves suggested that observations could be taken from the middle towards base portion of the bottom leaves, the lower two sheds, cutters and the upper two sheds from the tip, the parietal leaves from the medium up towards tip, these measurements enable an accurate sensory judgement of the “body grade” of tobacco leaves.

ConclusionUnderstanding the characteristics of thickness in variable positions and block portions of the tobacco leaves provides a rapid way for classification.