Effects of Aging on Contents of Carotenoid Degradation Products and Smoking Quality of Greenish Flue-cured Tobacco Leaves

The changes of contents of carotenoid degradation products and smoking quality of flue-cured tobacco with different greenish degrees during aging were studied. The results showed that:1) With the progression of aging, the contents of carotenoid degradation products and total sensory scores of samples increased first, then decreased. 2) The peak contents of carotenoid degradation products in orange and slightly greenish cutters were higher and emerged earlier comparing with green-yellow cutters. 3) The peak content of carotenoid degradation products in leaves packaged in corrugated board case was higher and emerged earlier comparing with leaves in corrugated board case with plastic liner. 4) The changing trends of total sensory scores and the contents of carotenoid degradation products during aging presented a positive correlation. Aging facilitates the quality of greenish tobacco leaves, particularly the leaves packaged in a corrugated board case without plastic inner.