Research progress on post-harvest mildew of cigar tobacco: Hazard assessment, occurrence mechanisms, and integrated control strategies

Background and objective Post-harvest cigar tobacco undergoes processes such as air-curing, fermentation, and storage, during which it is highly susceptible to mildew, severely compromising both quality and safety. Although research in this area has increased in recent years, most studies have focused on individual processing stages or single causal factors, with no systematic review addressing the hazards, mechanisms, and control technologies associated with post-harvest mildew of cigar tobacco. This paper aims to comprehensively review the research progress on post-harvest mildew in cigar tobacco, providing a reference for the development of more complete mildew prevention and control strategies. Methods Based on a comprehensive analysis of domestic and international literature published in recent years, this study systematically examines, for the first time, the major microbial communities responsible for post-harvest mildew in cigar tobacco, the hazard characteristics, occurrence mechanisms, and control technologies. Results The mildew of cigar tobacco is dominated by species of Aspergillus and Penicillium , with Aspergillus flavus , Aspergillus montensis , and Penicillium citrinum identified as high-risk molds. Mildew leads to deterioration of leaf appearance, disruption of tissue structure, imbalance in physicochemical components, and an increase in off-flavors, accompanied by potential risks from mycotoxins. The underlying cause of mildew is essentially a microbial community imbalance driven by the tobacco leaf’s rich nutrient matrix and high water activity. Among existing mildew control technologies, chemical methods are constrained by safety concerns, while physical and biological control approaches have increasingly become research focuses. Conclusion Mildew in cigar tobacco is a systemic quality risk driven by the coupled effects of multiple factors. Integrated prevention and control should be implemented from holistic, microecological, and engineering regulation perspectives. This review provides a systematic reference for future mechanistic studies and the development of mildew control technology systems.