Table 1.
Pigment content changes in tobacco leaves during curing.
| Concentration | Curing Time (h) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 48 | 72 | |
| β-carotene (μg·gDM‒1) | 275.37 ± 7.32 | 151.19 ± 3.92** | 70.63 ± 1.20** |
| Lutein (μg·gDM‒1) | 384.29 ± 5.02 | 213.85 ±6.64** | 86.23 ± 1.93** |
| Violaxanthin (μg·gDM‒1) | 99.73 ± 2.98 | 46.49 ± 2.55** | 26.22 ± 0.62** |
| Neoxanthin (μg·gDM‒1) | 39.72 ± 1.53 | 14.85 ± 0.44** | 7.97 ± 0.28** |
| Chlorophyll a (mg·gFM‒1) | 0.71 ± 0.02 | 0.10 ± 0.01** | 0.04 ± 0.01** |
| Chlorophyll b (mg·gFM‒1) | 0.33 ± 0.01 | 0.07 ± 0.01** | 0.04 ± 0.01** |
| SPAD value | 21.87 ± 0.63 | 5.36 ± 0.39** | 1.45 ± 0.23** |
| Carotenoids/Chlorophylls | 0.29 ± 0.01 | 1.30 ± 0.06** | 2.22 ± 0.14** |
| Xanthophylls/β-carotene | 1.91 ± 0.06 | 1.84 ± 0.07 | 1.71 ± 0.03* |
Data are shown as the means ± SEs (n = 7), except for the relative chlorophyll content (SPAD; Soil Plant Analysis Development) value (n = 30). Asterisks indicate significant differences between the values at 0 h and 48 h or 72 h based on Duncan’s multiple range test in SPSS (* p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01). Xanthophylls include neoxanthin, violaxanthin, and lutein. DM, dry mass; FM, fresh mass.