Technology - How It Works
- In tobacco plants, nicotine is converted to nornicotine (a precursor to NNN) through an enzymatic reaction known as “nicotine conversion,” which is catalyzed by the enzyme nicotine demethylase.
- Nornicotine can react with nitrite present in the plant and form potentially NNN, harmful tobacco constituents.
- ZYVERT® technology is a non-GMO technology that disables three genes to minimize nicotine demethylase enzymatic activity which in turn minimizes the conversion of nicotine to nornicotine. This leads to plants with substantially lower nornicotine levels and 50-75% less NNN compared to NNN levels in Low converter (LC) plants.
- The result is reduced formation of NNN.
- Seeds with ZYVERT® technology and are being produced for Burley and flue-cured.
Research & Publications
Work that has produced a significant level of scientific
and industry support for the capabilities of
ZYVERT® technology and seed.
Background
The industry has worked for decades to decrease
the presence of harmful constituents tobacco
specific nitrosamines.