Unraveling the Microbiome-Aroma Nexus: A Metagenomic and Volatile Compound Analysis of Yunnan Cigars

Jing Pan¹Ming-Da Huang¹Jin Wang^2*Xiong-Jian Zhao³Bin Yang³Hong-Hui Yang³Jin-Sheng Huang³Yu-Long Su⁴Xue-Ru Song⁴Wei-Guang Wang¹Ling-Duo Bu^4*

• ¹Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming, China
• ²China Tobacco Yunnan Industrial Co., Ltd., Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
• ³Yunnan Tobacco Company, Lincang Branch, Lincang, China
• ⁴Yunnan Tobacco Company, Yuxi Branch, Yuxi, China

In this study, we integrated metagenomic sequencing and volatile organic compound (VOC) profiling to investigate the relationship between microbial communities and aroma profiles (the microbiome-aroma nexus) in four Yunnan cigars and two Cuban cigars. Bacillus spp. was consistently dominant across all samples, while Yunnan cigars exhibited higher microbial diversity.A total of 121 VOCs were identified, among which key compounds such as ylangene, benzeneacetic acid, δ-elemene, (R,S)-anatabine, phenethyl alcohol, and nicotine played major roles in shaping the aroma. Notably, nicotine accounted for 29.7-55.0% of the total VOC content, showing strong positive correlations with Enterobacter and Escherichia, and negative correlations with Brachybacterium and Corynebacterium. Ylangene, known for its floral and fruity characteristics, was positively associated with Brachybacterium and Yaniella, while (R,S)-anatabine exhibited complex associations with multiple genera. After applying false discovery rate (FDR) correction, 26 VOCs-including copaene, 2,3'-dipyridyl, and δ-elemene-were found to differ significantly among the six cigar groups. KEGG pathway analysis indicated that microbial metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids, and lipids played a central role in shaping VOC patterns. Principal component analysis further revealed that Yunnan cigars, particularly YX4, had aroma profiles comparable to Cuban cigars in terms of VOC complexity and concentration. These findings highlight the intricate microbiome-metabolite networks influencing cigar aroma and underscore the role of region-specific fermentation microbiota. This study provides a scientific foundation for 设置了格式: 字体颜色: 文字 2 设置了格式: 非突出显示 optimizing microbial regulation during cigar fermentation and suggests that targeted microbial inoculation could serve as a promising strategy to improve the sensory quality and global competitiveness of Yunnan cigars.