High-Throughput Amplicon Sequencing Microbial Communities and Volatile Flavour Compounds of Naturally Air-Dried Yak Jerky from Two Regions of Xizang

Xu, Jinchao; Cai, Xiaolin; Liu, Cuiting; Li, Guipeng; Zang, Liwei; Li, Keke; Liu, Zhendong; Zhang, Yifan

doi:10.3390/microorganisms14092058

Open AccessArticle

High-Throughput Amplicon Sequencing Microbial Communities and Volatile Flavour Compounds of Naturally Air-Dried Yak Jerky from Two Regions of Xizang

by

Jinchao Xu

^1,†

,

Xiaolin Cai

^1,†,

Cuiting Liu

¹,

Guipeng Li

¹,

Liwei Zang

¹,

Keke Li

¹,

Zhendong Liu

^1,* and

Yifan Zhang

^2,*

¹

Key Laboratory of Deep Processing and High-Value Utilization of Characteristic Agricultural and Livestock Products of Xizang Autonomous Region, Food Science College, Xizang Agriculture & Animal Husbandry University, Nyingchi 860000, China

²

Institute of Agricultural Product Quality Standard and Testing Research, Xizang Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Lhasa 850000, China

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

^†

These authors contributed equally to this work.

Microorganisms 2026, 14(9), 2058; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14092058

Submission received: 2 August 2026 / Revised: 8 September 2026 / Accepted: 9 September 2026 / Published: 15 September 2026

(This article belongs to the Section Food Microbiology)

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Abstract

Nagqu and Nyingchi, two typical regions in Xizang with distinctly contrasting climatic conditions, are highly representative of the complex and diverse climate patterns across the plateau. This study compared the microbial community structures and volatile compound profiles of naturally air-dried yak jerky produced in these two areas. Significant differences in key physicochemical properties, including pH, moisture content, color, and texture, were also detected between the jerky samples from the two regions. Using high-throughput sequencing and headspace solid phase microextraction-gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry, results revealed significant regional variations in the microbial communities and volatile organic compound (VOC) of yak jerky. For Nagqu City, the dominant bacterial and fungal genera were Gemmiger and Pseudogymnoascus, respectively; whereas in Nyingchi, the dominant bacterial and fungal genera were Brochothrix and Naganishia, respectively. A total of 94 VOCs were identified in the yak jerky, categorized into six classes: 18 aldehydes, 37 esters, 8 alcohols, 3 ketones, 12 hydrocarbons, and 16 others. Esters were identified as the potential contributors to the characteristic aroma profile of yak jerky. These findings provide valuable insights for the standardization and industrial production of yak jerky in Xizang. As this work analysed only four air-dried samples, it should be regarded as a preliminary characterisation; the number of samples needs to be enlarged in further studies.

Keywords: high-throughput sequencing; fermented meat; Tibetan food; microflora; volatile flavour substances

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MDPI and ACS Style

Xu, J.; Cai, X.; Liu, C.; Li, G.; Zang, L.; Li, K.; Liu, Z.; Zhang, Y. High-Throughput Amplicon Sequencing Microbial Communities and Volatile Flavour Compounds of Naturally Air-Dried Yak Jerky from Two Regions of Xizang. Microorganisms 2026, 14, 2058. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14092058

AMA Style

Xu J, Cai X, Liu C, Li G, Zang L, Li K, Liu Z, Zhang Y. High-Throughput Amplicon Sequencing Microbial Communities and Volatile Flavour Compounds of Naturally Air-Dried Yak Jerky from Two Regions of Xizang. Microorganisms. 2026; 14(9):2058. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14092058

Chicago/Turabian Style

Xu, Jinchao, Xiaolin Cai, Cuiting Liu, Guipeng Li, Liwei Zang, Keke Li, Zhendong Liu, and Yifan Zhang. 2026. "High-Throughput Amplicon Sequencing Microbial Communities and Volatile Flavour Compounds of Naturally Air-Dried Yak Jerky from Two Regions of Xizang" Microorganisms 14, no. 9: 2058. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14092058

APA Style

Xu, J., Cai, X., Liu, C., Li, G., Zang, L., Li, K., Liu, Z., & Zhang, Y. (2026). High-Throughput Amplicon Sequencing Microbial Communities and Volatile Flavour Compounds of Naturally Air-Dried Yak Jerky from Two Regions of Xizang. Microorganisms, 14(9), 2058. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14092058

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High-Throughput Amplicon Sequencing Microbial Communities and Volatile Flavour Compounds of Naturally Air-Dried Yak Jerky from Two Regions of Xizang

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