Volatile metabolites of some barley storage molds

Volatile metabolites from Penicillium species grown on barley were concentrated by adsorption on Tenax and analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Of the compounds identified from Penicillium aurantiogriseum, P. verrucosum and P. viridicatum, 3-methyl-1-butanol (MB), styrene (S) and 1-octen-3-ol (OO) were prominent while smaller amounts of 2-pentylfuran (PF), 3-methylanisole (MA), 2-(2-furyl)pentanal (FP) and 2-ethyl-5-methylphenol (EMP) were detected. P. coprophilum produced MB, S, PF, MA, FP, EMP and 2-methylacetophenone. Possible biosynthetic pathways are discussed.