Musty Aroma Compounds Produced by Selected Molds and Actinomycetes on Agar and Whole Wheat Bread.

Musty aroma compounds produced by cultures of Streptomycetes odorifer , Streptomycetes griscus , Penicillium roqueforti , Aspergillus flavus , Aspergillus niger , and Botrytis cineria when grown on agar and whole wheat bread were isolated and identified using headspace entrainment and GC-MS analysis. Actinomycete cultures produced the most intense musty aromas, which were attributed to the presence of 2-methylisoborneol and geosmin, whereas P. roqueforti and B. cineria cultures produced an overall musty-fruity odor quality caused by the combination of 2-methylisoborneol and 8-carbon alcohols and ketones. Several musty compounds in the cultures were not identified including an intensely musty, cat-like aroma compound produced by A. flavus . Seven musty aroma-type categories are proposed to assist in defining musty taints produced by microorganisms in food and feedstuffs.