Microbial community assembly in the fermentation of cigar tobacco leaves

Microbial communities play pivotal roles in the fermentation of cigar tobacco leaves. Although high-throughput sequencing technology has facilitated the exploration of these communities, a comprehensive understanding of their assembly mechanisms remains elusive. This review integrates the current knowledge regarding microbial sources, ecological dynamics, and evolutionary processes during cigar tobacco fermentation. We systematically assess the abiotic factors (temperature, humidity, nutrients) and biotic interactions (quorum sensing, metabolic coordination) which influence the microbial community. Moreover, we put forward strategies for synthetic community engineering and discuss the emerging applications of artificial intelligence in fermentation optimization. These insights deepen the understanding of microbial communities in cigar tobacco leaves, and provide new perspectives on regulating microbial communities to enhance the fermentation quality of cigar tobacco leaves.