Effects of Sodium Chlorite on Enzymatic Browning Reaction of Flue-cured Tobacco Leaves

Effects of sodium chlorite (SC) of different concentrations and treatment methods of leaf surface spaying and dipping leaves on enzyme browning reaction of K326 flue-cured tobacco were investigated. The results indicated that 200 mg/L SC application markedly inhibit enzyme browning reaction of tobacco leaves. There were no significantly different efficacy in reducing browning of two treatment methods of leaf surface spaying and dipping leaves. There were different effects of SC on enzyme browning reaction of tobacco leaves of different maturity. SC application on M3 maturity leaves was found to achieve even better inhibition of browning than other maturity leaves. Changes of PPO activity of tobacco leaves treated with SC and water respectively were similar, but PPO activity of tobacco leaves treated with SC was lower than control tobacco leaves.