Estimated Contributions of Root and Shoot to the Nicotine Content of the Tobacco Plant.

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Abstract
In this paper are reported the ratios of the nicotine content of shoot and leaves of grafted (on tomato rootstocks) tobacco plants to those of the corresponding parts of nongraited plants of comparable size and stage of development. It is assumed that the nicotine content of the grafted shoot or leaf represents a direct estimate of the nicotine synthesizing capacity of the shoot or leaf. Thus, the calculated ratios for Nicotiana rustica var. gigantea indicate that about 0.1% of the alkaloid content in the shoot is produced in the shoot. Likewise in 2 varieties of N. tabacum var. Turkish and Connecticut Shade No. 49, from 1 to 3% of the nicotine in the shoot is produced in the shoot. Only about 0.3% of the nicotine contained in the leaves is produced in the leaves. Topping the plants led to an approximate 3-fold increase in all quantities. Certain refinements of estimate in the case of Turkish tobacco indicated that over 99% of the nicotine contained in the shoot is actually produced in the root system.