Correlation Analysis between Nonvolatile Organic Acids and Sensory Quality of the Characteristic Flue-cured Tobacco in Nanping

Methyl esterizing treatment, CH₂Cl₂ extraction and gas chromatography were used in this research to detect 12 types of nonvolatile organic acids in flue-cured tobacco in Nanping. The results showed that, sensory evaluation was well correlated with oxalic, propanedioic, palmitic, oleic, linolenic, linoleic, myristic and citric acid. The simple correlation analysis showed that smoking indices were positively correlated with palmitic and linoleic acids, but negatively correlated with the other nonvolatile organic acids. Canonical correlation analysis showed that the content of palmitic, myristic, malonic, linolenic,, linoleic and citric acid had huge effluence on the smoking indices, and played a significant part in the typical variables. The path coefficient analysis showed that, oxalic acid have much direct effect on aroma quality, miscellaneous gases, offensive odor and the total score; Iinolenic acid had much direct effect on aroma quality, aroma concentration, after taste and offensive odor; Linoleic acid had much direct effect on offensive odor. Oleic acid had much direct effect on aroma concentration. All those showed a significantly positive correlation. Propanedioic acid which showed a negative correlation had much direct effect on after taste offensive odor and the total score.