Construction of a sensory quality evaluation model for tobacco leaves from Henan Province and its application in tobacco quality assessment

This study was designed to establish a sensory-oriented quality evaluation model for tobacco leaves, systematically elucidate the key chemical basis underlying the sensory attributes of tobacco from representative growing regions in Henan Province, and identify the key aroma components influencing their quality. A total of 47 tobacco leaf samples were collected from three major producing areas in Henan Province, namely Pingdingshan, Sanmenxia, and Nanyang. Professional sensory evaluation and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) were employed to quantitatively analyze 29 chemical constituents, including nicotine. Multivariate statistical approaches, such as principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation analysis, were applied to construct the sensory quality evaluation model and identify key aroma components. Furthermore, the effects of different agronomic factors (fertilization, harvesting methods, plant growth vigor, and single-leaf weight) on these key components were investigated. PCA revealed that the first two principal components cumulatively accounted for 52% of the total variance, representing sweet/fruity and green/woody characteristics, respectively. Correlation analysis identified 13 key aroma components significantly associated with sensory quality, including 3-hydroxy-2-butanone, benzaldehyde, linalool, β -damascone, and megastigmatrienone, among others. The established sensory–chemical correlation model effectively evaluated and predicted the sensory quality of tobacco leaves, revealing intrinsic relationships between key aroma components and sensory attributes. It is important to note that the samples utilized in this research are exclusively from Henan Province; therefore, caution should be exercised when generalizing these findings to tobacco leaves from other geographical regions or genetic contexts. The findings provide a scientific basis for enhancing the sensory comfort and industrial usability of tobacco leaves through precise agronomic regulation, such as optimized fertilization and harvesting practices.