Experimental Investigation on Influence of Soluble Sugar Content on Tensile Characteristics of Flue-Cured Tobacco Leaves

Abstract

For the purpose of defining quantitatively the influence of soluble sugar content“S”in tobacco on the tensile characteristics“Y”of tobacco leaves, the following multiple regression formula, with three independent variables (temperature“t”, moisture content “w”and “S”), was statistically determined by using the experimental data obtained on flue-cured tobacco cultivated in Japan.
Y=k_o+k_t·t+k_w·w+k_S·S+k_l
Furthermore, the variation of“Y”caused by the change in “t”, humidity, water extraction of tobacco, leaf position on a stalk“p”and direction of specimen on a leaf“l”, were statistically analyzed by five-way classification. The“Y”represented the tensile strength, elongation percentage, elastic modulus or elasticity per unit dry weight of tobacco. The results obtained were as follows;
(1) Tensile strength“P_m”.
The influences of“p”and“l”on“P_m”were greater than those of“t”, “w”and“S”. The value of“P_m”increased with increasing“p”.
(2) Elongation percentage“ε”. The influences of“S”and“w”on“ε”were higher than those of“t”, “p”and“l”. The value of“ε”increased with increasing“S”and“w”.
(3) Elastic modulus“E”and elasticity per unit dry weight“E_G”. The influences of“S”on“E”and“E_G”were stronger than those of“w”, “t”, “p”and“l”. The values of“E”and“E_G”decreased with increasing“S”.
(4) In conclusion, the effects of“S”on“E”and“E_G”was greater than those on the other tensile characteristics, and the effect of“S”on“ε”was greater than that on“P_m”.