Unraveling the unique microbiota and metabolites in three different colors Jiangqu through multidimensional analysis

Tri-colored Jiangqu, including white (WQ), yellow (YQ), and black (BQ)-color Daqu, significantly influence fresh Baijiu yield and quality. The differences in attributes of these Jiangqu types, sourced from two renowned Baijiu enterprises, were investigated using multi-omics approaches. Color intensity negatively correlated with ammonia nitrogen content, but positively with pyroglutamic acid content. 182 volatiles and 291 non-volatiles were identified, with each types exhibiting unique metabolites. Esters, pyrazines, ketones and phenols were predominant in WQ, YQ, and BQ, respectively. The content of peptides, amines, and amino acids with derivatives also showcased the differences of microbiota and metabolic pathways among tri-colored Jiangqu. BQ's characteristic components of L-Tyrosine and acetyl tributyl citrate were closely associated with melanin formation. In YQ, Scopulibacillus and Rhizopus correlated positively with tetramethylpyrazine. Moreover, the bacterial community significantly influenced the metabolic profiles, and synergistic interactions between fungal and bacterial communities were crucial in determining metabolite abundance.