[Objective] This study aimed to explore the related mechanisms of the breaking of flue-cured tobacco leaves. [Method] Anti-breaking models of the main veins of flue-cured tobacco leaves were constructed for principal component analysis on the anti-breaking index, leaf traits and cellulose contents. [Result] The results showed that the growth traits had certain relevance with the cellulose contents while the leaf weight assumed a significant negative correlation with the anti-breaking index, indicating that the heavier the leaf weight was, the weaker the anti-breaking capacity of flue-cured tobacco would be; the cross-sectional area of main veins and the cellulose contents had shown a positive correlation with the anti-breaking index, indicating that the thicker the main vein of flue-cured tobacco was, the higher the cellulose contents would be, and the stronger the anti-breaking capacity of flue-cured tobacco leaves would be. [Conclusion] This study provided theoretical basis and reference to improve tobacco production and enhance the quality of flue-cured tobacco.