Study on Curing Characteristics of Flue-cured Tobacco Variety KRK26

Leaf curing characteristics of flue-cured tobacco variety KRK26 introduced from Zimbabwe was investigated with a control variety Yunyan97. The changes of yellowing, browning and moisture removal under dark condition, pigment degradation, the rate of water lose during curing process were studied, as well as the economic characters of cured tobacco leaf. The results showed that KRK26 leaf yellowing was faster, water loss was lower, easy to browning under dark condition; The chlorophyll degradation speed of KRK26 was fast, the carotenoid pigment degradation speed was low during curing process, contents of chlorophyll degradation thoroughly after curing, the ratio of chlorophyll and carotenoid was high, the speed of yellowing was fast, the yellowing characteristics was better with easy to browning; dehydration characteristics was medium, the water loss rate was slow in early yellowing stage, while the yellowing rate was relatively fast. The water loss rate became slower in late yellowing stage and early fixing color stage, The coordination of leaf dehydration and yellowing of KRK26 was not very good, easy curing potential and coloring characteristics of KRK26 were less than Yunyan97. The water loss of tobacco leaves should be control in early yellowing stage, while increase in late yellowing stage and early fixing color stage to regulate the coordination of water loss and yellowing, increased its curing quality.