Abstract
This experiment was carried out to study the effect of oxygen on chemical composition and physical properties of tobacco leaves during flue-curing. The results obtained were as follows: Starch content decreased and sucrose content increased with increasing oxygen supply during curing. Glucose and fructose of the cured leaves showed high content at the 5-10% oxygen supply. Amino-N and nitrate-N increased with increasing oxygen supply. Total nitrogen and NH4-N showed the lowest value at the 5-10% and 10-15% oxygen supply in the cutters and leaf, respectively. Chlorophyll and chlorogenic acid increased, and total volatile base decreased with increasing oxygen supply. The activity of α-amylase increased at the latter period of flue-curing, and the maximum activity point were delayed 12 hours with increasing oxygen supply. Shatter index of cured leaves decreased with increasing oxygen supply. It was desirable to supply oxygen during flue-curing for the improvement of chemical and physical properties such as starch, total sugar, chlorogenic acid, and shatter index of cured leaves.