Correlation Analysis between Chemical Components and Physical Properties in Flue-cured Tobacco Leaves

The relationship among physical properties and chemical components of 12 samples with different leaf positions from four flue-cured tobacco varieties (Yunyan85, Yunyan87, Nanjiang3 and K326) was analyzed by using correlation analysis and canonical correlation analysis. The results indicated that there was a significant positive correlation between leaf thickness and total nitrogen content, the correlation coefficient being 0.936 (P<0.01); leaf thickness and nicotine content, the correlation coefficient being 0.674 (P<0.05); filling power and total sugar content, K content, the correlation coefficient being 0.645 and 0.690 (P<0.05); weight per leaf and nicotine content, total nitrogen content, the correlation coefficient being 0.666 and 0.684 (P<0.05); but a significant negative correlation between protein content of vein and nicotine content, the correlation coefficient being-0.687 (P<0.05). The leaf thickness increased but filling power decreased with the increase of total nitrogen content and with the decrease of K content, total and reducing sugar contents.