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CHARGE NUMBER: 2506 PROJECT TITLE: Botanical Investigations PROJECT LEADER: Roger T. Bass PERIOD COYERED: July 1 - 31, 1981 DATE OF REPORT: August 3, 1981 r Ii [ i (. I. GENERAL A. The seventh 1''C tobacco plant production run which was in progress for 47 days in the large plant growth chamber system has been comp-leted. Plants #1 - #4 were harvested on 7/20/81 and produced a total green wet weight yield of 4385 gsn, wtth the individual plant yields as shown. PLANT #1 PLANT #2 PLANT #3 PLANT #4. TISSUE N.rustica-G. OX. 1-181 N.rustica-B S.C. 58 TOTAL Flower 93 gm 16 gm 88 gm 0 gm 197 gm Leaf 204 712 587 880 2383 Suckers 116 142 166 74 498 Stalk 185 432 270 418 1305 Scrap 2 0 0 0 2 Total 600 1302 1111 1372 4385 gm This tobacco is being oven cured and prepared for other assays. B. At the request of and in cooperation with Charge #1716 an experiment has been set up in the Greenhouse in which flue-cured tobacco plants, var. Coker 319, will be fed '`5CaC12 using hydroponic culture. The mature tobacco leaves containing "Ca will then be utilized in studies involving the fate of calcium during curing, during heating and processing treatments, and during combustion in the cigarette. C. Assistance was provided for Charge #6908 in the application of salt solutions to three filler samples. The Kontes Chromaflex glass sprayer was used to apply the solutions. Also one 10 gm sample of ground 2R1 filler was prepared and supplied as requested for Charge #2525. Samples of 1R1 filler and 1R1 RKS ingredient were supplied for studies at U. of Va. It. COOPERATIVE STUDIES A. A field tour of the 1981 Flue-Cured Tobacco Test Plots located in the Border and Eastern Belts was. attended. Tour stops included visits to

-2- the Coker's Pedigreed Seed'iCo., the Pee Dee Tobacco Research Station, the Whltevi:lle Tobacco Research Station, and several farm plots in the two belts. In these 6elts a few sma11 areas have not received adequate rainfall at the desired time, but i.n general the crop in the field looks very good at this point. On one farm some excellent cured first primings were on display showing good color, texture and aroma. A field day was attended at the Oxford Tobacco Research Station in which field'tours covered the many programs and facets of tobacco research being conducted there on a cooperative basis between U.S.D.A. and N.C. personnel. III. GREENHOUSE A. The regular work functions and maintenance activities of plant production have been carried out. Trays of Coker 319, Coker 411, S.C. 58, Oxford 1-181, Ky. 10, N. rustica, and Smyrna tobaccos have been seeded and a totaI of 38 plants were transplanted. Nutrient solutions were prepared as necessary and plant topping and suckering were performed. B. Fresh green tobacco plant materials have been provided as requested for Charge Nos. 1901, 1716 and 1504. Assistance was provided Charge #1716 in the sel'ection and harvest of ripe leaves representing an additiional stalk position on the ratooned Coker 411 tobacco plants. Maintenance care has been provided for the tobacco plants located in the Manufacturing Center recepti.on area, Three new plants of Coker 319 have been ratooned for use by Charge #1716. C. The pH, of the Kool',-Cel water is being monitored and is averaging about 7,7, which isn within the desirabIle range of operation. Weekly treat- ment of the water to control algae is continuing to be effective. The possibility of using soft water from "B" Building for the Greenhouse plant watering system is being considered. Determinations have been made showing the pFC to be 6,6 and the chior.ide content to be 32 ppm. IY. REFERENCES G. Newell NB 7395 A, Brna NB 7435