Abstract: Tobacco material having a reduced protein content is provided by first extracting water soluble components from tobacco. The extracted residue then is subjected to enzyme treatment using an enzyme which can decompose water insoluble protein molecules to smaller sized water soluble molecular components. The enzyme treated extracted tobacco material then is isolated. The extracted tobacco components then can be reapplied to the protein reduced tobacco material. The tobacco material so processed is use as smokable material for cigarette manufacture.

Abstract: A method of delaying flowering in plants which control their flowering by producing a flowering inhibiting regulator on a seasonal basis is provided. In the method of the invention, a flowering inhibiting amount of the regulator is applied to the plant about the time in the growth cycle of the plant when the regulator is no longer produced by the plant. As a result, the duration of the inhibitory effect on the plant is prolonged. Bis (2-ethylhexyl) hexane dioate (BEHD) is disclosed as such a regulator. Also disclosed is a family of diesters of dicarboxylic acids having flowering inhibiting activity, other methods of treating plants with these compounds, and a new method of identifying flowering regulators.