Studies on the Tobacco Alkaloids -Influence of K, Ca and Mg on Nicotine Contents-

담배 성분에 관한 연구 -니코틴 함량 변화에 미치는 K, Ca 및 Mg의 조성 비율-

Tobacco, which has nicotine for its main component, has been in medical use for a long time and in great demand for smoking throughout the world. The purpose of this study is to control nicotine amount and to increase yield more efficiently by the method of systematic variations. Nutrient solutions for tobacco culture were designed and prepared in 10 kinds with mineral ions: $NO_{3^-},\;SO_{4^{--},\;PO_4{^{-3},\;K,{^+}\;Ca,{^{++}\;Mg,{^{++}$, Mn, B, Cu, Zn, Mo, and Fe. Nicotiana tabacum L. Yellow Special A, grown for 50days from sowing, was replanted in plastic pot and cultured for 65 days supplying with prepared nutrient solutions. After harvest, their nicotine amount was determined by means of acid-base titrimetry and gas chromatography. The tobacco plants in KCa 4 and KMg 9 groups demonstrated the highest yield in total leaves weight and KMg 7 group in average nicotine amount. They have shown the increase of nicotine amount from lower leaf to 16th leaf, and thereafter decreased gradually. The author also pursued the optimum ionic proportions for the absolute nicotine amount in tobacco by means of systematic variations method.