Integrated microbiology and metabolomics analysis reveal the fermentation process and the flavor development in cigar tobacco leaf

The development of the metabolic state and characteristic flavor of cigar tobacco during fermentation is the key to process control. Innovative discoveries in the development of the metabolic state and characteristic flavor of cigar tobacco during fermentation are the key to process control. Innovative discoveries of core functional microorganisms and key metabolites were made during fermentation, suggesting potential pathways for carbon and nitrogen metabolisms. We demonstrate for the first time that cigar tobacco leaf fermentation is a microbially mediated carbon-nitrogen coupling metabolism. Many carbohydrates in tobacco leaves are decomposed and consumed to provide energy source and carbon skeleton for the construction of microbial cells, and nitrogen-containing macromolecular compounds are degraded to form volatile compounds or flavor precursors with typical flavors.