Effects of ventilation on aroma production in cigar tobacco fermentation by metagenomic analysis

doi:10.14088/j.cnki.issn0439-8114.2026.10.027

Abstract

Abstract: To elucidate the regulatory role of ventilation in the fermentation and aroma production process of cigar tobacco leaves and its underlying microbial metabolic mechanisms, a pilot-scale fermentation system (120 kg per batch) was employed to establish ventilation versus natural fermentation treatments. Combining metagenomic analysis with GC-MS techniques, the microbial community succession, metabolic pathways, and the synthesis of aromatic compounds during fermentation were analyzed. The results showed that pilot-scale ventilation fermentation of cigar leaves (with a ventilation rate of 20 mL/min, 30-minute sessions every 4 hours, 2 hours per day) significantly enhanced aroma production. Compared to the control, phenylalanine conversion products, carotenoid degradation products, Maillard reaction products, cembranoid degradation products, and the total aroma content were increased by 52.26%, 68.88%, 177.13%, 84.77%, and 136.99%, respectively. Metagenomic analysis revealed that ventilation regulated microbial succession and promoted metabolic diversity, driving a shift in the dominant genera from Acinetobacter, Aspergillus, and Staphylococcus to Staphylococcus and Aspergillus, with Aspergillus abundance increasing by 35.2 times compared to the control group. Staphylococcus was the primary contributor to metabolic pathways such as the pentose phosphate pathway, inositol phosphate metabolism, and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Whereas Aspergillus showed the highest contribution to the metabolic pathways of oxidative phosphorylation (32.08%), phenylalanine metabolism (35.90%), and terpenoid backbone biosynthesis (24.17%). The results provided technical support for cigar tobacco fermentation.

Key words: cigar tobacco leaves, fermentation, ventilation, aroma production, metabolic pathway, metagenomic analysis

CLC Number:

TS453

CHEN Feng-tian, YU Jun, GUO Teng-fei, WANG Zhi, YANG Jin-peng, CHEN Xiong. Effects of ventilation on aroma production in cigar tobacco fermentation by metagenomic analysis[J]. HUBEI AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, 2026, 65(10): 188-195.

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