MODELING THE EFFECT OF ABIOTIC FACTORS ON TOBACCO-SPECIFIC NITROSAMINES

Minimization of tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) is a focus for many involved in burley tobacco research and production. Environmental factors in curing barns during the 2-week physical transformation from yellowing to browning affect concentrations of TSNAs in cured tobacco. The objective of this study was to develop mathematical models for TSNA accumulation on the basis of temperature and relative humidity. Temperature and relative humidity were measured continuously in 20 burley tobacco barns located in Tennessee during the 2008 and 2009 growing seasons. The environmental data were analyzed by creating thresholds of temperature ( 70°F) and relative humidity (>80%, >85%, >90%). For each barn during weeks 3 through 5 of curing, total hours that temperature and relative humidity (RH) satisfied these thresholds were defined as Th 70, RHh>80, RHh>85, or RHh>90. From these threshold counts we developed various models on the basis of regression analysis. Models were linear, interaction, ...