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Updated: May 2, 2026
Quantification of Fungal Colonization, Sporogenesis, and Production of Mycotoxins Using Kernel Bioassays
Published on: April 23, 2012
GC-IMS identification of early-warning biomarkers and fungal community dynamics during cigar tobacco mold process
Ge Zhang1,2, Kuo Huang1,3, Qiuxuan Xie1,3
1Center of China Tobacco Standardization, Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of CNTC, Zhengzhou, China.
Introduction:
Mold-derived contamination in cigar tobacco leaves causes severe economic losses and health risks due to mycotoxin production. This study aimed to identify early-warning biomarkers for mold and elucidate their interaction with fungal communities.
Method:
Gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) combined with high-throughput sequencing was employed to profile volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and fungal communities during artificial molding.
Results:
A total of 72 VOCs were detected, with four compounds (2-methyl-1-butanol-M, 2-methyl-1-butanol-D, 2-propanone, and 1-penten-3-ol) identified as early-warning biomarkers through VIP > 1 and P < 0.05, showing 1.31.5-fold increases in early mold stages (MB3). Furthermore, fungal diversity sharply declined post-molding (OTUs reduced by 85.7%), with Aspergillus dominating (>99.45% abundance), and exhibiting strong positive correlations with 1-penten-3-ol (ρ = 0.61) and benzaldehyde-M (ρ = 0.67).
Discussion:
These findings provide actionable biomarkers for industrial mold prevention and insights into fungal-VOC interaction, with implications for perishable crop storage.
