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CHARGE NUMBER: 1901 PROJECT TITLE: Biochemical Modification of Tobacco PERIOD COVERED: July 1-31, 1!981 WRITTEN' BY: D. M. Teng DATE OF REPORT: August 7, 1981 I. LANCASTER LEAF TOBACCO COMPANY (LLTC) - TYPE FERMENTATION OF . Teng, , emp, S. en et A large scale solid fermentation of Burley strips and'stems was conducted at LLTC during June and July of 1981. Burley strilps and stems were sprayed with either water or sugar solution to desired moisture content, incubated at thermophilic temperature range for up to three weeks and'dried. Samples were analyzed at R&D, and the results indicated that: . Under certain conditions a very significant reduction in nitrate-nitrogen was observed in Burley strips in two weeks. b. The large scale sample took longer for the reduction of nitrate as compared to a small scale sample under the same condition. Different types of containers will be used next time. c. Different batches of tobacco responded differently to the application of sugar to the tobacco. • d. The required conditions for this type of fermentation can be achieved at LLTC. Small scale Burley.strip experiments were carried out at R&D to determine the effect of inital pH, sugar concentrations and moisture content to the degree of nitrate removal by solid fermentation. Results will be reported upon the completion of the experiments. (D. Teng and S. Tenhet)2 II. FARM STUDY (D. Teng, G. Nixon, K. Walls)3 Coker 319 Bright tobacco leaves were primed and flue cured at the Southern Piedmont Experiment Station at Blackstone, Virginia. Samples were taken at different stages and freeze drie6to be used for chemical constituents, especially pectin, determination in the future. Coker 319 Bright tobacco plants were also stalk cut and are being air cured. Tobacco leaves subjected to flue curing and air curing willl be used in a study to determine the effect of sugar to filling power and expansion.

IT , I -2- III. TOBACCO PECTINMETHYLESTERASE (E. Mooz, G. Nixon, K. Walls, D. Teng)4 The optimum condition for isolating pectinmethylesterase from green and flue-cured bright tobacco leaves was established. The enzyme preparation is stable to freezing, but not freeze drying. Coker 319 tobacco samples were taken at different stages of flue curing, and the pectinmethylesterase activity was determined. On dry tobacco weight basis, the enzyme activity showed a steady decline as the curing progressed'. The enzyme profile in tobacco during air curing also willi be determined. IV. TOBACCO EXPANSION A. A small scale expansion process was used to test the effect of stiffening (increase in C.V.) from an increase in expansion (increase in S.V.). Bright filler at various levels of moisture and Burley filler at 40% O.V. were heated for various times by the radiant heat system, and equilibrated in the laboratory. From the S.V. values, it was concluded that the increase in C.V. by radiant heating was due to stiffening than expansion. (~E. Mooz, K. Walls, G. Nixon)5 B. Fourteen samples were submitted to Dr. R. Morgan for Ca determination. They consisted of bright filler and cylinder-treated bright filler which had been expanded without puffing agegt in the 3" tower at temperatures of 675°, 650° and 600°F. (E. Mooz) REFERENCES 1. Di. Teng - PM Notebook #7418. 2. S. Tenhet - PM Notebook #7225. 3. G. Nixon - PM Notebook #7208. 4. K. Walls - PM Notebook #7528. 5. E. Mooz - PM Notebook #7443'. ~ O N N N U1 ~ h+ 4'