Comparison of the Effects of a Microwave Drying Method to Currently Used Methods on the Retention of Morphological and Chemical Leaf Characters in Nicotiana Tabacum L. Cv Samsun

Summary Leaves of Nicotiana tabacum L. cv Samsun were selected because of the volatile nature of their active principle, nicotine. They were dried by four different methods: air‐dried, oven‐dried at 60°C, freeze‐dried, and dried in a microwave oven. The four samples of dried leaves were compared as to their microscopical characters and alkaloid content. After drying by microwaves, it remained possible to identify the leaves by their botanical characteristics. Their alkaloid content was qualitatively unchanged and quantitatively slightly superior to that of leaves dried by the other methods.