Synthetic microbial communities enhance tobacco quality by driving bacterial community succession and modulating metabolite profiles

Authors

• Kuifu Men, Shandong Agricultural University
• Huaqiang Xuan, Liaocheng Academy of Agricultural Sciences
• Jingrui Chen, Shandong Agricultural University
• Hongliang Li, Shandong Agricultural University
• Xuwei Chen, Shandong Agricultural University
• Yingle Jiao, Shandong Agricultural University
• Xianchao Shang, Shandong Agricultural University
• Yi Xie, Shandong Agricultural University
• Li Zhang, Shandong Agricultural University
• Long Yang, Shandong Agricultural University
• Ling Yuan, University of KentuckyFollow
• Sitakanta Pattanaik, University of KentuckyFollow
• Xin Hou, Shandong Agricultural UniversityFollow

Abstract

The fermentation of cigar tobacco leaves (CTLs) is a critical process driven by microbial activity, which directly influences the degradation of macromolecules and the development of distinctive aromas. However, mechanisms for the directional regulation of this process using defined microbial consortia remain underexplored. This study aimed to construct a synthetic microbial community (SynCom) to enhance the fermentation efficiency and quality of cigar tobacco leaves. Bacillus safensis and Bacillus velezensis with high extracellular cellulase, amylase and protease activities were screened out, and synthetic communities were constructed. This microbial community was applied to cigar tobacco leaves (cultivar QX204) during a 42-day fermentation. The SynCom significantly accelerated the degradation of key macromolecules, reducing cellulose, protein, and starch contents by 52.48 %, 56.36 %, and 68.47 %, respectively, which were markedly greater reductions than those observed in the uninoculated control. Microbiome analysis revealed that inoculation shifted the bacterial community structure, increasing the relative abundance of Firmicutes and significantly enriching the genus Bacillus. Metabolomic profiling identified 31 differentially accumulated volatile flavor compounds, including phenylacetic acid, phytol, and farnesol, which were upregulated in the BsBv group and contributed to enhanced honey, floral, and baked aromas, while reducing irritancy. Integrated multi-omics analysis indicated that these improvements were associated with key metabolic pathways, notably pyruvate metabolism, the pentose phosphate pathway, and glycerolipid metabolism. Furthermore, partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) elucidated that the SynCom consortium directly modulated chemical components and indirectly improved sensory quality by mediating shifts in microbial β-diversity. These findings provide mechanistic insights into how functional SynComs can directionally improve tobacco leaf quality and offer a practical strategy for achieving efficient, high-quality cigar tobacco production.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-1-2026

Notes/Citation Information

Publisher Copyright: © 2026 The Authors

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1016/j.indcrop.2025.122621

Archival?

Archival

Repository Citation

Men, Kuifu; Xuan, Huaqiang; Chen, Jingrui; Li, Hongliang; Chen, Xuwei; Jiao, Yingle; Shang, Xianchao; Xie, Yi; Zhang, Li; Yang, Long; Yuan, Ling; Pattanaik, Sitakanta; and Hou, Xin, "Synthetic microbial communities enhance tobacco quality by driving bacterial community succession and modulating metabolite profiles" (2026). Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Publications. 206.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/pss_facpub/206