Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between the chemical composition of tobacco leaves and sensory comfort in each tobacco area. Correlation analysis, principal component and cluster analysis were used to analyze the chemical composition and sensory comfort data of tobacco samples from 5 producing areas in Northeast, Southeast, Huanghuai, Southwest and the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River. The results showed that reducing sugars, total sugars were significantly positively correlated, total plant alkaloids and total nitrogen were significantly negatively correlated with sensory indicators, and potassium-chloride ratio was positively correlated with fluency and cleanliness indicators. Principal component analysis was performed on its indicators, and four principal component factors were screened out, namely sensory factor, concentration factor, aroma factor and stimulating factor. Then cluster analysis was performed by calculating the scores of each tobacco area, and the chemical and sensory indicators of the tobacco areas were divided into three parts: the southwest and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River; the northeast and the Huanghuai area; the southeast tobacco area. The results show that each tobacco area presents differences and similarities in chemical and sensory indicators, and has a certain distribution pattern throughout the country, which is of great significance for the division of tobacco areas in the country and the improvement of the intrinsic quality of tobacco leaves in each area.