Differential Fluorescence in Identification of Tobacco Trashy Leaf

Abstract

TRASHY leaf is brown, worthless leaf occurring in flue-cured tobacco; its prevalence causes a substantial loss to the Australian tobacco industry¹. In the investigation of this phenomenon, it is essential that means be available of detecting trashiness at an early stage in uncured leaf. Cured leaf can usually be separated on physical properties into several grades varying from normal to fully trashy. This does not apply to uncured leaf, where gradation in trashiness remains masked. A method is described here whereby the presence of trashiness in dried uncured leaf can be readily detected. This method is based on the differential fluorescence of normal and trashy leaves under ultra-violet light.