Crops ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (5): 184-194.doi: 10.16035/j.issn.1001-7283.2025.05.025

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of Stalk-Cutting and Curing on the Quality and Metabolites of Upper Tobacco Leaves

Li Linlin1(), Zhang Zhen2, He Gang2, Gao Renji2, Liang Zengfa2, Xie Jin2, Huang Hao2, Zeng Fandong2, Jin Baofeng2, Cai Yixia3, Jiang Junhong4, Wang Wei1()   

  1. 1 College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, China
    2 China Tobacco Guangdong Industrial Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510610, Guangdong, China
    3 College of Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, China
    4 College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, China
  • Received:2023-11-04 Revised:2024-03-03 Online:2025-10-15 Published:2025-10-21

RichHTML

2

PDF (PC)

343

Abstract:

To explore the differences in quality and metabolites between conventional curing and stalk-cutting and curing of tobacco leaves. The conventional chemical components and metabolites, as well as appearance quality and sensory quality were determined using B2F-grade tobacco leaves after curing. The results showed that the contents of reducing sugars, nicotine, starch, potassium, and total nitrogen in tobacco leaves of stalk- cutting and curing were all lower than those in conventional curing. In terms of sensory quality, tobacco leaves of stalk-cutting and curing had a better aroma quality, more abundant aroma, and more comfortable aftertaste. Through multivariate statistical analysis, 86 different metabolites were screened out. Among them, the contents of most esters, aldehydes, alcohols, and ketones were significantly higher in tobacco leaves of stalk-cutting and curing, which were also important components of aroma substances in flue-cured tobacco. A chord diagram revealed that the contents of aromatic volatile metabolites such as benzaldehyde, furfural, and 5-methyl-2- furfuryl alcohol were positively correlated with the scores of aroma quality and aftertaste, indicating that the increase in these aromatic volatile metabolites was an important reason for the improvement of sensory quality in stalk-cutting and curing tobacco. Metabolic pathway enrichment analysis showed that carbohydrate metabolism was the most differentially regulated pathway in response to the two different harvesting and curing methods. Reconstruction of the metabolic pathway revealed that the content of different metabolites involved in carbohydrate metabolism, such as pyruvic acid, acetaldehyde, acetic acid, ethanol, and 2,3-butanedione, were significantly higher in stalk-cutting and curing tobacco leaves compared to conventionally cured leaves, suggesting that stalk-cutting and curing can enhance the intensity of carbohydrate metabolism during the conditioning process of tobacco leaves. Stalk-cutting and curing can effectively enhance the sensory quality of tobacco leaves, increase the intensity of carbohydrate metabolism, and increase the content of aromatic volatile metabolites, ultimately improving the quality of the upper tobacco leaves.

Key words: Flue-cured tobacco, Stalk-cutting and curing, Upper leaf, Metabolomics, Quality

Table 1

Appearance quality evaluation index and scoring standard of flue-cured tobacco"

颜色
Color		 得分
Score		 成熟度
Maturity		 得分
Score		 色度
Chromaticity		 得分
Score		 油分
Oil content		 得分
Score		 叶片结构
Leaf structure		 得分
Score		 身份
Thickness		 得分
Score
橘黄 7~10 成熟 7~10 浓 8~10 多 8~10 疏松 8~10 中等 7~10
柠檬黄 6~9 完熟 6~9 强 6~8 有 5~8 尚疏松 5~8 稍薄 4~7
红棕 3~7 尚熟 4~7 中 4~6 稍有 3~5 稍密 3~5 稍厚 4~7
微带青 3~6 欠熟 0~4 弱 2~4 少 0~3 紧密 0~3 薄 0~4
青黄 1~4 假熟 3~5 淡 0~2 － － － － 厚 0~4
杂色 0~3 － － － － － － － － － －

Table 2

Sensory quality assignment method"

指标
Index		 分值Score 权重
Weight
7.6~9.0 6.1~7.5 4.6~6.0 3.1~4.5 ≤3.0
香气质Aroma quality 好、较好 中偏上 中等 中偏下 较差、差 0.25
香气量Aroma quantity 足、较足 尚足 有 较少 少 0.25
杂气Offensive odor 轻 较轻 有 较重 重 0.17
刺激性Irritation 小 较小 有 较大 大 0.13
余味Aftertaste 舒适 较舒适 尚舒适 欠舒适 滞舌 0.20

Table 3

Effects of harvesting and baking methods on chemical components of upper leaves of flue-cured tobacco"

处理
Treatment		 总糖
Total sugar (%)		 还原糖
Reducing sugar (%)		 烟碱
Alkaloid (%)		 淀粉
Starch (%)		 钾
Potassium (%)		 总氮
Total nitrogen (%)		 糖碱比
Sugar/Nicotine		 氮碱比
Nitrogen/Nicotine
CG 29.68±0.29 21.87±0.06 3.05±0.02 4.63±0.23 1.90±0.02 2.68±0.01 7.17±0.06 0.88±0.01
DJ 30.82±0.27 20.86±0.07 2.89±0.02 4.01±0.10 1.73±0.02 2.57±0.01 7.23±0.05 0.89±0.01
F值F-value 0.37 0.61** 2.74** 1.28* 0.12** 3.19** 0.12 2.17

Table 4

Effects of flue-curing methods on appearance quality of upper leaves of flue-cured tobacco"

处理
Treatment		 颜色
Color		 成熟度
Maturity		 叶片结构
Leaf structure		 身份
Thickness		 油分
Oil content		 色度
Chromaticity		 总分
Aggregate score
CG 8.00±0.14 8.03±0.15 5.72±0.26 6.36±0.11 6.06±0.25 6.33±0.24 71.85±1.49
DJ 7.81±0.17 8.42±0.10 6.50±0.13 6.56±0.09 6.86±0.16 6.86±0.13 74.25±1.25
P值P-value 0.42 0.23 0.05 0.06 0.10 0.26 0.22

Table 5

Effect of curing methods on sensory quality of upper leaves of flue-cured tobacco"

处理
Treatment		 香气质
Aroma quality		 香气量
Aroma quantity		 杂气
Offensive odor		 刺激性
Irritation		 余味
Aftertaste		 总分
Aggregate score
CG 5.80±0.12 5.90±0.10 6.00±0.00 6.00±0.00 5.90±0.10 65.55±0.76
DJ 6.50±0.00 6.30±0.12 6.10±0.10 6.00±0.00 6.30±0.12 69.45±0.27
P值P-value 0.01** 0.04* 0.32 0.32 0.04* 0.01**

Fig.1

Total PCA score plot of sample metabolites"

Fig.2

Sample metabolite OPLS-DA score plot"

Fig.3

Validation diagram of OPLS-DA model"

Fig.4

Volcano of differential metabolites"

Fig.5

Cluster heat map of differential metabolites"

Table 6

The top 40 metabolites with significant differences in their fold changes among different roasting methods"

类型Type 代谢物名称
Metabolite name		 代谢物分类
Metabolite classification		 差异倍数
FC		 烟气特征
Smoke characteristic
上调化合物
Up-regulated compounds		 糠醛 醛类 4.01 甜味、面包香
正己醛 醛类 3.10 青草香
吡啶酮 氮杂环类 2.96 －
5-甲基-2-呋喃甲醇 醇类 2.79 甜味、焦甜香
苯甲醛 醛类 2.58 樱桃香
正丁醇 醇类 2.56 －
棕榈酸甲酯 酯类 2.43 甜味
苯乙酸乙酯 酯类 2.34 甜味、蜜香、玫瑰花香
2-辛酮 酮类 2.32 花香、草香
3-戊醇 醇类 2.28 －
苯甲醇 醇类 2.25 弱花香
庚酸乙酯 酯类 2.23 果香
2(5H)-呋喃酮 酮类 2.19 －
壬酸乙酯 酯类 2.01 玫瑰香、酒香
丙酮酸 酸类 1.99 －
甲酸乙酯 酯类 1.98 果香
正壬酸 酸类 1.95 茴香香味
正戊醇 醇类 1.94 －
棕榈酸乙酯 酯类 1.92 甜味
乙醛 醛类 1.89 －
下调化合物
Down-regulated compounds		 苯乙烯 烃类 0.54 －
植酮 酮类 0.53 －
沙丁胺醇 醇类 0.52 －
对二甲苯 烃类 0.52 －
乙酸乙酯 酯类 0.52 水果香
4-甲氧基茴香硫醚 氮杂环类 0.51 －
二烯烟碱 氮杂环类 0.51 －
辛酸 酸类 0.51 蜡香
萘 烃类 0.48 －
麦斯明 氮杂环类 0.47 －
丙戊酸 酸类 0.47 －
3-羟基-2-丁酮 酮类 0.45 －
2-乙基-4-甲基戊醇 醇类 0.42 －
1-环丙基甲基-4-甲氧基-苯 烃类 0.41 －
己酸 酸类 0.39 蜡香
3-辛醇 醇类 0.37 －
2,4-二甲基-6-苯基吡啶 氮杂环类 0.29 －
N-甲基丁二酰胺 氮杂环类 0.28 －
3-乙基苯酚 酚类 0.26 －
庚酸 酸类 0.26 油脂香

Fig.6

The chord diagram of metabolites and sensory quality of the top 40 differential folds"

Fig.7

KEGG functional annotation of differential metabolites"

Fig.8

Differential metabolite enrichment map"

Fig.9

Some carbohydrate metabolic pathways"

[1] 贾中林, 郑庆霞, 戴华鑫, 等. 烤烟上部叶成熟过程中代谢组的差异分析. 烟草科技, 2023, 56(1):1-10.
[2] 杨秀军, 刘峰峰, 黄建, 等. 带茎采收上部烟叶烘烤过程中呼吸强度和能量代谢研究. 中国烟草科学, 2022, 43(5):68-73.
[3] 王晓宾. 带茎烘烤对烤烟上部叶生理生化指标和品质的影响. 北京: 中国农业科学院, 2008.
[4] 孙光伟, 陈振国, 覃光炯, 等. 顶叶处理方式和采收时间对上部烟叶内在质量的影响. 山东农业大学学报(自然科学版), 2019, 50(4):700-705.
[5] 谢已书, 武圣江, 潘登华, 等. 不同采烤方式对烤烟上部6叶烘烤质量及可用性的影响. 贵州农业科学, 2012, 40(11):77-81.
[6] 徐秀红, 王爱华, 王传义, 等. 烘烤期间带茎采收的烤烟顶部叶某些生理生化特性变化. 烟草科技, 2006(9):51-54.
[7] 蒋博文, 马留军, 陈小翔, 等. 上部烟叶带茎烘烤过程中呼吸强度及水分、色素含量的变化. 河南农业科学, 2018, 47(1):145-149.
[8] Karl-Heinz O, Nelly A, Bijay S, et al. Metabonomics classifies pathways affected by bioactive compounds. Artificial neural network classification of NMR spectra of plant extracts. Phytochemistry, 2003, 62(6):971-985.
pmid: 12590124
[9] Hong J, Yang L T, Zhang D B, et al. Plant Metabolomics:an indispensable system biology tool for plant science. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2016, 17(6):767.
[10] Judge A, Dodd M S. Metabolism. Essays in Biochemistry, 2020, 64(4):607-647.
doi: 10.1042/EBC20190041 pmid: 32830223
[11] Brunetti C, George R M, Tattini M, et al. Metabolomics in plant environmental physiology. Journal of Experimental Botany, 2013, 64(13):4011-4020.
doi: 10.1093/jxb/ert244 pmid: 23922358
[12] Liu Y Z, Liu Q, Xiong J J, et al. Difference of a citrus late-ripening mutant (Citrus sinensis) from its parental line in sugar and acid metabolism at the fruit ripening stage. Science in China Series C:Life Sciences, 2007, 50(4):511-517.
[13] 党昕, 刘军, 姚凌云, 等. GC-MS结合GC-O、电子鼻评价不同预处理方式对沙枣风味的影响. 食品科学, 2023, 44(6):327-335.
[14] 朱明明, 伍锦鸣, 赵谋明, 等. 以云烟87为主的烟末乙醇抽提物风味成分的气相色谱-质谱法分离鉴定. 食品工业科技, 2012, 33(5):314-317.
[15] 刘新. 植物生理学实验. 北京: 高等教育出版社, 2017.
[16] 韩富根. 烟草化学. 北京: 中国农业出版社, 2010.
[17] 国家技术监督总局. 烤烟:GB 2635-1992. 北京: 中国标准出版社, 1992.
[18] 魏春阳, 李锋, 张仕祥, 等. 基于特征向量的烤烟外观质量分类评价. 烟草科技, 2010(12):61-65.
[19] 王彦亭. 中国烟草种植区划. 北京: 科学出版社, 2010.
[20] 国家烟草专卖局. 烟草及烟草制品感官评价方法:YC/T 138- 1998. 北京: 中国标准出版社, 1998.
[21] 褚旭, 王珂清, 魏建荣, 等. 基于综合赋权法的烤烟烟叶质量评价. 烟草科技, 2019, 52(10):28-36.
[22] Dai W D, Xie D C, et al. Characterization of white tea metabolome: comparison against green and black tea by a nontargeted metabolomics approach. Food Research International, 2017, 96(2):40-45.
[23] 阿基业, 何骏, 孙润彬. 代谢组学数据处理——主成分分析十个要点问题. 药学学报, 2018, 53(6):929-937.
[24] 赵燕妮, 张坤, 许牡丹, 等. 基于GC-MS代谢组学技术的不同品种猕猴桃果实化学成分差异性研究. 陕西科技大学学报, 2022, 40(1):45-50.
[25] 黄浩, 周冀衡, 王卫民, 等. 带茎烘烤对宁乡烟区烤烟上部叶产量和质量的影响. 南方农业学报, 2014, 45(8):1457-1460.
[26] 王晓宾, 孙福山, 徐秀红, 等. 上部烟叶带茎烘烤中主要化学成分变化. 中国烟草科学, 2008, 29(6):12-16.
[27] 仙立国, 黄一兰, 王松峰, 等. 烤烟品种翠碧一号上部叶适宜采收方式研究. 中国烟草科学, 2020, 41(4):90-94.
[28] 刘光辉, 刘京, 姚雪梅, 等. 采烤方式对上部烟叶产质量及采烤成本的影响. 作物研究, 2016, 30(3):303-305.
[29] 滕永忠, 胡从光, 徐建平, 等. 带茎烘烤的烤烟上部叶的水分散失. 烟草科技, 2007(2):53-57.
[30] 谢剑平. 烟草与烟气化学成分. 北京: 化学工业出版社, 2011.
[31] 史宏志. 烟草香味学. 北京: 中国农业出版社, 2011.
[32] 魏硕, 罗定棋, 顾勇, 等. 烤烟上部叶带茎烘烤水分状态及形态变化分析. 南方农业学报, 2017, 48(9):1659-1664.
[33] Yun Z, Gao H J, et al. Integrated transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomics analysis reveals peel ripening of harvested banana under natural condition. Biomolecules, 2019, 9(5):167.
[34] Zhang L, Zhang X T, et al. Metabolic profiling of tobacco leaves at different growth stages or different stalk positions by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Industrial Crops and Products, 2018, 116:46-55.
[1] Teng Wen, Ye Fan, Zhou Zhou, Wang Yule, Liu Lijun. Effects of Wheat and Rapeseed Straw Returning on Yield and Quality of Rice under Salt Stress [J]. Crops, 2025, 41(5): 11-18.
[2] Ma Qiang, Li Yankun, Wang Gui’e, Wen Tingting, Zhang Tianyu, Tian Jichun, Wang Yanxun. Analysis of Agronomic Traits and Quality Characteristics of Colored Wheat Varieties Approved in Shandong Province and Research on Improvement Direction [J]. Crops, 2025, 41(5): 113-119.
[3] Zeng Jianan, Ye Xiaoqing, Cai Minjue, Zhou Cheng, He Peng, Chen Zhuangzhuang, Chen Yufeng, Cao Liangjun, Chen Jianjun, Wang Yuanyuan. Effects of Exogenous Substances on Photosynthesis and Antioxidant Capacity of Upper Leaves of Flue-Cured Tobacco under High Temperature Stress [J]. Crops, 2025, 41(5): 247-259.
[4] Jia Yanli, Zhang Hongfa, Liu Guixia, Huang Sufang, Qu Xinyue, Yue Mingqiang, Han Jiating, Xu Yupeng, Liu Qingsong. Effects of Biological Sulfur Regulator on the Yield, Quality of Alfalfa and Soil Physicochemical Properties in Saline-Alkali Land [J]. Crops, 2025, 41(5): 86-92.
[5] Deng Zhou, Gong Chenxu, He Yuxuan, Zeng Yongjun, Huang Shan. Effects of Combined Lime and Pig Manure Application on Grain Quality of Double-Cropping High-Quality Rice [J]. Crops, 2025, 41(4): 181-187.
[6] Zhou Qi, Zhang Jing, Wang Zhenlong, Shi Zhiguo, Deng Chaochao, Chang Hao, Liu Yang, Zhou Yanfang. Effects of Green Manure Incorporation and Nitrogen Fertilizer Reduction on Soil Quality, Oat Yield and Quality in Hexi Irrigation District of Gansu Province [J]. Crops, 2025, 41(4): 188-196.
[7] Yan Dingwei, Yang Jianxin, Guo Jie, Liang Yifan, Luo Fei, Fu Guangming, Li Junzheng, Chang Jianbo, Zhang Yulin, Ji Xiaoming. Effects of Different Water-Retaining Agents on the Bacterial Community Structure of Tobacco-Planting Soil and the Yield and Quality of Flue-Cured Tobacco [J]. Crops, 2025, 41(4): 197-205.
[8] Tao Zuhao, Wang Weiqin, Zheng Huabin, Xiang Jun, Tang Qiyuan. Effects of Water, Fertilizer and Chemical Regulation on Seedling Quality of Mechanized Casting Transplanting in Late Rice [J]. Crops, 2025, 41(4): 224-230.
[9] Wu Fengjie, Hou Nan, Qi Xiangkun, Yang Kejun, Fu Jian, Wang Yufeng. Effects of Different Nitrogen Application Rates on Main Nutritional Quality and Yield of Waxy Corn in Semi-Arid Area [J]. Crops, 2025, 41(4): 267-275.
[10] Gao Shuguang, Xu Dongyang, Hu Minjie, Wang Ruixia, Zhang Chunhua, Xu Bohan, Li Weifeng, Zhang Liuping. Preliminary Identification and Evaluation of Quality Traits of Sesame Germplasm Resources [J]. Crops, 2025, 41(4): 58-64.
[11] Du Bing, Yang Furong, Wang Cheng, Guo Haojie, Zhang Fuhou, Meng Chaomin. Analysis of Grain Calcium Content, Quality and Agronomic Characteristics of 66 Foxtail Millet Varieties [J]. Crops, 2025, 41(4): 87-94.
[12] Wang Jiatong, Ma Yingchen, Feng Yanfei, Lu Jiahui, Guo Zhenqing, Li Xueli, Li Yun, Han Yucui, Lin Xiaohu. Effects of Reduction of Nitrogen Topdressing Application on Phosphorus and Potassium Fertilizer Utilization and Quality of Spring Wheat in Eastern Hebei Province [J]. Crops, 2025, 41(3): 141-148.
[13] Yang Tianxu, Li Jincheng, Huang Ruiyin, Deng Wenjun, Wang Jun, Wang Wei, Cai Yixia. Regulation Effects of Nitrogen Application Rate and Basal-Topdressing Ratio on Nicotine Synthesis and Key Enzyme Activities of Flue-Cured Tobacco [J]. Crops, 2025, 41(3): 156-164.
[14] Zhu Jindi, Zhu Xuegang, Du Wenqing, Qiu Tuoyu, Zhao Xinbin. Effects of Chemical Fertilizer Reduction Combined with Organic Fertilizer Application on Photosynthetic Characteristics, Quality and Yield of Tomatoes Cultivated in Facilities [J]. Crops, 2025, 41(3): 185-189.
[15] Li Hu, Huang Qiuyao, Wu Zishuai, Liu Guanglin, Chen Chuanhua, Luo Qunchang, Zhu Qinan. Effects of Planting Density and Nitrogen Application Rate on Yield and Rice Quality of High-Quality Conventional Rice Guiyu 12 [J]. Crops, 2025, 41(3): 195-201.
Viewed
Full text


Abstract

Cited
  Shared   
  Discussed   
No Suggested Reading articles found!