Abstract: The quantitative determination results on cartenoids and aromatic components of the cartenoids in flue-cured tobacco leaves from Panxi region, Sichuan Province at different mature periods. The results showed that the contents of cartenoids decreased gradully during the mature periods of flue-cured tobacco leaves in Panxi region. The contents of aromatic components of the cartenoids in the lugs of flue-cured tobacco leaves increased gradully during the end of mature period, but there were not in cutters. The contents of damascenone increased gradully during the mature period of flue-cured tobacco leaves from Panxi region, but the contents of dihydroactinolide decreased gradully. The content of β-inone was little during the mature period of flue-cured tobacco leaves and it was non at the end. The contents of megastigmatrienones increased during the mature period.

Key words: Flue-cured tobacco, Maturity Period, cartenoids, Aromatic components