Production of natural fruity aroma by Geotrichum candidum

Based on its aromatic potential, Geotrichum candidum isolated from olive vegetation water was tested for the production of volatile compounds. When G. candidum was cultivated on media with glucose as the carbon source, flavor volatile compounds were produced and accumulated in the broth. Fruity flavoring compounds (pineapple-like) such as esters and alcohols were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, including ethyl esters of acetic acid and butyric acid, methyl-3-butan-1-ol, and methyl-2-propan-1-ol. Their synthesis corresponded to the stationary growth phase of the strain. Production of the volatile compounds reached 9.5 g/L of 2-hexanoic acid ethyl ester and 1.6 g/L of benzaldehyde as the main concentrated molecules. Ethyl alcohol seems to be an intermediate metabolite in this pathway.