Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between weather factors during the growing season and chemical components of flue-cured tobacco. Chemical components used in this study was from 'Farm Leaf Tobacco Test' conducted at KT&G Central Research Institute from 1986 through 2003. Data of weather factors during growing season(April to July) were collected in 10 districts measured at Korea Meteorological Adminstration(KMA). Nicotine and total sugar contents, and total sugar to nicotine(TS/Nic.) ratio were increased, whereas total nitrogen to nicotine(TN/Nic.) ratio and chloride content were decreased from 1986 through 2003. Year to year variation of rainfall was the largest, followed by that of sunshine hour. Month to month variation of rainfall also was the largest, followed by that of mean daily air temperature(MDAT). Rainfall was correlated positively with relative humidity(RH), but negatively with sunshine hour. Nicotine content was correlated positively with MDAT(in July, June$\~$July, May$\~$July and average), but negatively with rainfall(in May$\~$July) and with RH(in June, July, May $\~$June, June $\~$July, April$\~$June, May $\~$July and average). Total sugar content was correlated positively with MDAT(in May), but negatively with sunshine hour(average) and RH(in June, July, June$\~$July, April$\~$June, May$\~$July and average). The positive correlation was found between total nitrogen content and sunshine hour(in April, May, April$\~$May, May$\~$July, April$\~$June and average). The negative correlation was found between TS/Nic. ratio and sunshine hour(in May$\~$July and average). TN/Nic. ratio was correlated positively with sunshine hour(in May and April$\~$May) and with RH(in July and June$\~$July), but negatively with MDAT(in July, June$\~$July, May$\~$July and average). Ether extraction content was correlated positively with MDAT(in July, June$\~$July, May$\~$July and average) and with sunshine hour(in July and June$\~$July), but negatively with rainfall(in April, July, MayJuly and average). Chloride content was correlated positively with sunshine hour(in April, July, April$\~$May, June$\~$July, April$\~$June, May$\~$July and average), but negatively with rainfall(in April, April$\~$June and average).