tobaccotalk.myfastforum.org

Arjan · Joined: 23 Jul 2009 Posts: 2 Location: The Netherlands

Can I rinse rinse polutions and insects from the leaves after harvesting without losing nicotine content? I know that nicotine is mixable with water and I noticed the leaves are much less sticky after rinsing. And second: Where is the nicotine mostly located? Inside or on the surface of the leaves?

Dan · Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 8:49 am Post subject:

Yes you can wash undesirable material, insects, aphids, field dirt, light mold etc., off your leaf.
My best guess is that nicotine is part of the chemistry of the leaf. I think it's in the leaf. If you will notice the article refers to nicotine "IN THE LEAF" Also I would believe that if the nicotine were on the outside of the leaf, being water soluble, rain would wash it away. The following articles should help answer your question:
First isolated as a chemical compound in 1828, nicotine is a clear, naturally occurring liquid that turns brown when burned and smells like tobacco when exposed to air. It is found in several species of plants, including tobacco and, perhaps surprisingly, in tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplant (though in extremely low quantities that are pharmacologically insignificant for humans). In tobacco, the highest concentration of nicotine appears in the plant's topmost leaves. A poisonous alkaloid, nicotine at high dosages has been used in everything from insecticides to darts designed to bring down elephants.
High nicotine concentrations in leaves, especially in the upper leaves, offer a serious problem for the cultivation of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). Preliminary field experiments showed that rapid mineralization of soil N during late stages of growth may contribute to high nicotine concentrations in leaves.

• Methods A sand-culture experiment was carried out in the greenhouse. The N supply was controlled during the experiment, and different amounts of 15N were supplied during late stages of growth (after removal of the shoot apex), to investigate the contribution of the N taken up at this time to the N content of and nicotine concentration in tobacco plants.

• Key Results Addition of 1·6 g or 4 g 15N-labelled NH4NO3 after removing the shoot apex and flushing out the 14N did not increase leaf dry weights; however, it did result in delayed leaf senescence, more lateral bud formation, and an increase in 15N as a proportion of total N, and nicotine-15N as a proportion of total nicotine-N in each organ. The nicotine concentration, 15N and nicotine-15N abundances were increased from the bottom to the top leaves. When more 15N-labelled NH4NO3 was supplied, the nicotine concentration in leaves increased, and so did the 15N abundance in nicotine-N.

• Conclusion Enhanced N supply in the later growth stages (after removing the apex) increased N content and nicotine concentration in tobacco plants. Nicotine was synthesized de novo during the late growth stages.[/i]

Tomato Worm · Joined: 21 Jul 2009 Posts: 19 Location: The land of wheat

Very, very good info, Dan. I knew nicotine was imbedded throughout the entire plant. However, nicotine DOES also ooze to the surface in the juices of this clammy plant. Many nightshades are clammy. This is the direct cause of green tobacco sickness.
_________________
Those who made footprints in the sands of time did not wear loafers.

Arjan · Joined: 23 Jul 2009 Posts: 2 Location: The Netherlands

Thanks for your reply's

According to 'Tobacco leaf - its culture and cure, marketing and manufacture':

If possible to avoid it, tobacco should not be cut
immediately after a heavy rain. Rain water dissolves
and washes away much of the gummy matter that adds
to the weight of the tobacco leaf and gives it body. In
three or four days after a rain, the gummy matter will
be again secreted, especially if the nights are cool and
the dews heavy. If the weather is threatening, so there
is a probability that a rain will occur before the tobacco
can be carried to the barn, it should not be cut. Nothing
injures tobacco more than to be caught in a shower
of rain... (page 313)

The gum in cigar leaf is what produces much of its
value in smoking. The taste, strength, texture, etc.,
are all more or less dependent on the amount of gum
present. (page 75)

I found similar remarks in other (old) books, so I decided NOT to wash the leaves after I harvested them. Not because of the nicotine content, but more to leave the 'gum' intact. Instead I brushed the leaves carefully after they were dried. Maybe the subject of this topic must be changed to 'Washing leaves destroys the gum?' Smile

bob_kemp · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:30 am Post subject:

Hi --

As I answered you on another forum with the identical question, I will not believe that the thin layer of gunk on the outside of the leaf would contribute with any significance to the overall nicotine content of the leaf. I would have to see laboratory analysis of the nicotine content of dirty leaves vs clean leaves before I would believe it.

If nicotine content is your main concern, rather than smoking the pollen, dust, bug and bird poop, grass seeds and whatever pollution was picked up out of the air, I would wash the leaves and grow a rustica variety to add back any nicotine you feel you are missing.

Bob

Wydeboi · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 1:14 pm Post subject:

I agree with Bob, however, go easy on the Rustica or you'll find yourself on the floor foaming at the mouth! Laughing