GAS-LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHIC QUANTIFICATION OF SOLANESOL IN CHLOROPHYLL MUTANTS OF TOBACCO

A gas-liquid chromatographic method was developed to analyze solanesol content in plants. The data from four tobacco cultivars representing several chlorophyll genotypes showed that solanesol increased in quantity during leaf growth and reached a maximal level at leaf maturation. Flue-curing resulted in an increase of free solanesol, which is attributed to the degradation of solanesyl esters. Solanesol was not present in leaf cutin but accumulated in chloroplasts. Chlorophyll genes Py (pale yellow) and yg (yellow green) that regulate the growth and development of chloroplasts also affect the accumulation of solanesol and solanesyl esters in green and cured tobacco leaves. The present results demonstrated varietal differences in solanesol content and loss of solanesol during curing. Since solanesol is the possible precursor of carcinogenic compounds in cigarette smoke, its quantity in tobacco leaf may be lowered through breeding and curing processes. © 1978, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.