Nicotine content of fresh green tobacco leaves versus dried tobacco leaves. Which has more?

[Mazdaman]

Which has more nicotine - a fresh, mature green tobacco leaf or a fresh, mature dried tobacco leaf? And why, or why not, if there is a difference? Thanks.

 

[deluxestogie]

Belated welcome to the forum. Nicotine is produce in tobacco roots, and transported to the leaves. There, it is retained within the leaf lamina, with a small fraction excreted by the leaf hairs (trichomes) for herbivore defense. Nicotine does not evaporate during color-curing. So long as the mature leaves are not washed, their nicotine concentrations are similar.

Bob

 

[ShiniKoroshi]

Fresh mature dried?

 

[GreenDragon]

Nicotine is a very stable molecule. The moment a leaf is cut, the amount in the leaf is fixed: green or cured, the amount is the same. How the leaf is subsequently processed, blended, and consumed all have an effect on the amount of nicotine that is absorbed.

 

[Mazdaman]

Belated welcome to the forum. Nicotine is produce in tobacco roots, and transported to the leaves. There, it is retained within the leaf lamina, with a small fraction excreted by the leaf hairs (trichomes) for herbivore defense. Nicotine does not evaporate during color-curing. So long as the mature leaves are not washed, their nicotine concentrations are similar.

Bob

The sap flow direction doesn’t reverse directions at leaf maturity and impending death and flow back down to the roots? For example, with trees, this seasonally occurs.

 

[deluxestogie]

...their nicotine concentrations are similar.

Bob

Nicotiana tabacum is a sub-tropical perennial. The nicotine stays put.

Bob