Research on Metabolism of Flue-Cured Tobacco Leaf Carotenoids During Its Growth Development

The contents of carotenoids in different parts of flue-cured tobacco leaf during its growth development were determined by RP-HPLC.The results show that the contents of cartenoids decreased gradually during the flue-cured tobacco leaf growth development,and leaves of different parts of tobacco had different contents of carotenoids.β-carotene,neoxanthin,violaxanthin,lutein and xanthophylls contents remained stable in the middle part of the flue-cured tobacco leaves during the development.Compared with lower part tobacco leaves and middle part tobacco leaves,upper part flue-cured tobacco leaves during its latter stage have higher contents of β-carotene,neoxanthin,violaxanthin,lutein and xanthophylls,and 16.1 mg·g~(-1) β-carotene as the highest.