Comparative Technological Assessment of the Quality Formation of Local and Introduced Varieties of Virginia Flue-cured and Burley Tobaccos

Abstract

The production of “marketable” tobacco is decisive in the pReferences of local farmers towards certain varieties of Virginia and Burley tobaccos. The aim of the study was to complete a comparative technological evaluation of the quality potential of introduced and local varieties of Virginia flue-cured and Burley air-cured tobaccos in Bulgaria. The investigation was conducted with tobaccos from 2018 crop year and included 4 varieties of Virginia flue-cured and 2 varieties of Burley tobacco (local and introduced), grown in different regions of Southern and Northern Bulgaria. The complex assessment of tobacco quality was based on leaf and smoke chemical indicators, external leaf quality elements and smoking performance of the studied tobaccos. The final rating was achieved by referring to the value of the calculated “quality indices”. Two of the local varieties, V 0454 from region Parvomay and PVH 19 from Central Northern Bulgaria were rated the best in the complex evaluation of the FCV tobaccos. A better complex expression of quality was found in the introduced (trial) variety Burley N compared to the local Burley 1317 in Southern Bulgaria region.