The present invention provides a method for reducing at least one tobacco-specific nitrosamine or a precursor thereof in tobacco comprising modifying the tobacco plant by increasing the activity or expression of a LBD (lateral organ bound domain) nitrogen-responsive transcription factor. The present invention also provides tobacco cells, tobacco plants, tobacco plant propagation materials, harvested leaves, processed tobaccos, or tobacco products obtainable in accordance with the invention.

The present disclosure provides approaches for reducing tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) in tobacco. Some of these approaches include genetically engineering tobacco plants to increase one or more antioxidants, increase oxygen radicle absorbance capacity (ORAC), or reduce nitrite. Also provided are methods and compositions for producing modified tobacco plants and tobacco products therefrom comprising reduced TSNAs.

A smokeless tobacco product is provided that includes a tobacco material in the form of a tobacco extract, a particulate tobacco material, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the smokeless tobacco product is substantially translucent. Methods for making and using the smokeless tobacco product are also provided. The smokeless tobacco product can include isomalt, maltitol syrup, particulate tobacco, and a translucent tobacco extract prepared by ultrafiltration.

Immobilized diluents in a smoking article are provided, wherein diluents can be immobilized through absorption and/or adsorption of the diluents into immobilizing materials, such as sorbents like silica gels. By immobilizing diluents, the diluents can be available for vaporization, while still being protected from migration and/or loss of the diluents in a smoking article.

A smokeless tobacco product is provided that includes a tobacco material in the form of a tobacco extract, a particulate tobacco material, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the smokeless tobacco product is substantially translucent. Methods for making and using the smokeless tobacco product are also provided. The smokeless tobacco product can include isomalt, maltitol syrup, particulate tobacco, and a translucent tobacco extract prepared by ultrafiltration.

Immobilized diluents in a smoking article are provided, wherein diluents can be immobilized through absorption and/or adsorption of the diluents into immobilizing materials, such as sorbents like silica gels. By immobilizing diluents, the diluents can be available for vaporization, while still being protected from migration and/or loss of the diluents in a smoking article.

Methods of curing tobacco that reduce the levels of TSNAs and/or improve leaf quality are described herein.

Embodiments provided herein concern tobacco and tobacco products having a reduced amount of a harmful compound. More specifically, several embodiments concern approaches to modify the expression of a gene that is involved in the production of a harmful compound in tobacco, tobacco products made using these approaches and methods of determining whether the removal of said compounds using said approaches yields a tobacco and/or a tobacco product that has a reduced potential to contribute to a tobacco-related disease.

The present invention provides a method for modulating the alkaloid content of a plant (e.g. a tobacco plant), the method comprising modifying said plant by modulating the activity or expression of at least one Nic1 ERF gene. The present invention also provides for the use of at least one Nic1 ERF gene for modulating the alkaloid content of a plant, as well as tobacco cells, plants, plant propagation materials, harvested leaves, processed tobaccos, or tobacco products obtainable in accordance with the invention.

There is described herein a method of reducing the amount of at least matrix-bound NNK in tobacco material comprising the steps of: (a) providing tobacco material comprising at least matrix-bound NNK; (b) optionally measuring the level of at least matrix-bound NNK in the tobacco material; (c) heating the tobacco material for at least about 30 seconds to a temperature of greater than about 110 degrees Celsius in the presence of a liquid or steam to release at least a portion of the matrix-bound NNK from the insoluble tobacco matrix of the tobacco material; (d) optionally measuring the level of at least matrix-bound NNK in the tobacco material following step (c); (e) optionally comparing the levels of matrix-bound NNK obtained in steps (b) and (d); and (f) identifying tobacco material in which at least matrix-bound NNK has been removed from the tobacco material.