Relationship between Appearance Quality and Main Chemical Composition of Flue-cured Tobacco Leaves in Huidong County of Sichuan Province

The relationship between appearance quality and main chemical composition of flue-cured tobacco was studied with 126 leaf samples taken in Huidong County in Sichuan Province. The results showed that main chemical composition contents were mainly influenced by leaf color, body, leaf width, and leaf weight. There was a positive correlation (1% or 5%) among body, oil and nicotine content; a positive correlation (1%) among color and total nitrogen; a negative correlation (1% or 5%) among leaf width and total nitrogen content; a negative correlation (1%) among leaf body, chroma and K₂O content; a positive correlation (1%) among color and Cl content; a negative correlation (1%) among leaf body and ratio of reduced sugar and nicotine. There was no significant correlation between leaf length and main chemical composition. The content of nicotine, total nitrogen and Cl increased and the ratio of K₂O and Cl decreased remarkably with leaf color; the content of nicotine increased and K₂O content decreased remarkably with leaf body thickening; the content of nicotine increased remarkably with increasing leaf oil content.