Headspace Solid Phase Microextraction (HS-SPME) and Analysis of Geotrichum fragrans Volatiles

Abstract

Geotrichum fragrans (syn. Saprochaete suaveolens) can produce fruity aromas (pine-apple like) such as esters and alcohols, when cultivated in glucose containing liquid media. Consumers’ preferences for the use of natural products especially in foods and cosmetics have motivated the production of aroma chemicals by biotechnological means. In the present study, the volatile compounds of the G. fragrans during the 9 days cultivation in liquid media were accumulated by Headspace- Solid Phase Microextraction (HS-SPME) technique, and, analysed by gas chromatography/flame ionisation detector (GC/FID) and GC coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS), simultaneously. The main volatiles of the G. fragrans culture were determined as ethyl tiglate (8.5-74.6%), ethyl isovalerate (36.1-41.6%) and methyl isovalerate (0.1-10.9%) during the time course. Daily variation trends of the aroma volatiles were determined, where ethyl acetate was postulated as an intermediate metabolite in this bioconversion pathway