THE IMPACT OF INSERTION ON SOME TECHNOLOGICAL CHARACTERS OF BASMAK TOBACCO VARIETIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

Technological characters determine the so-called technological - commercial quality of tobacco and tobacco products during fabrication. Three-year trials were performed with variety YK 7-4/2 (check) and three Basmak varieties - MK-1, MB-2 and MB-3. The trial was designed in randomized blocks with five replications. The aim of investigation was to determine water retention capacity, density, filling capacity and fractional composition of tobacco by insertions. WRC was determined by the method of ( Boceski, 2003), filling capacity (cm 3 /g) and density (g/cm 3 ) were determined using the Borgwaldt densimeter by the method of Shuto (1972) and fractional composition by the method of Dorahova and Dikker. During the three years of investigation, WRC ranged from 16.87% in the lower leaf of variety MB-2 to 23.70% in the middle leaf of MB-3, which proves that the investigated varieties of Basmak tobacco have higher WRC compared to the check. The lowest density by insertions and years and the highest filling capacity was recorded in the middle leaf of MB-2 in 2009 (0.195 g/cm 3 ). In the three years of investigation, the lowest average density was recorded in lower leaves of the variety MB-3 (0.213 g/cm 3 ) and the highest in top leaves of the check variety YK 7-4/2 (0.303 g/cm 3 ). The filling capacity was the highest (5.13 cm 3 /g ) in middle leaves of the variety MB-2 and the lowest (2.91 cm 3 /g) in undertop leaves of the variety MB-3 in 2009. In average, the lowest positive fraction was measured in lower leaves of the variety MB-2 (78.99%) and the highest in middle leaves of the variety MB-3 (93.23%), while the negative fraction ranges from 10.16% in MB-3 to 21.11% in the check variety JK 7-4/2. The data obtained show that the characteristics of the investigated Basmak varieties are typical for the oriental tobacco. presented by insertions: water retention capacity, positive and negative fraction, density and filling capacity. Physical characters of tobacco are particularly important in manufacture of final products.