Abstract: In order to improve the baking quality of high temperature forced cooked tobacco leaves, different concentrations of ethylene reagents were sprayed before roasting to study the effects of their baking characteristics on tobacco leaves, the changes of carbon and nitrogen-containing compounds in the baking process, and the economic characters and intrinsic quality of tobacco leaves after roasting. The results show that spraying 200~300 mg/kg of ethephon reagent before baking can improve the water loss balance of tobacco leaves, rapidly inhibit the activity of polyphenol oxidase and improve the baking characteristics of tobacco leaves. The proportion of yellow tobacco and the proportion of upper smoke increase after roasting; the average price increase by nearly 1.0 yuan/kg; the degradation of macromolecular substances such as starch, protein and chlorophyll in tobacco leaves during high temperature is promoted; and the accumulation of total sugar and reducing sugar is higher; total nicotine and total nitrogen content remained basically stable; the overall coordination of tobacco leaves is getting better; the quality of smoking is improved. The treatment with 200 mg/kg is the best, followed by the treatment of 300 mg/kg, which can be used as a technical measure to improve the baking quality of high temperature cooked tobacco.

Key words: tobacco leaf, ethylene, baking quality, high temperature forced ripening, material change