(R)-2-OCTENO-DELTA-LACTONE AND OTHER VOLATILES PRODUCED BY LASIODIPLODIA-LASIODIPLODIA-THEOBROMAE

Lasiodiplodia theobromae GK-1, a strain of filamentous fungi isolated from the surface of fruit of the coconut palm, produced a coconut-like aroma in potato-dextrose-agar medium. As the compound most responsibl e for the aroma, 2-octeno-delta-lactone was identified. Comparing to ( R)-2-deceno-delta-lactone, its stereochemistry was found to be 100% of R-configuration by using gas chromatographic enantiomeric separation after converting the lactone to lactol methyl ethers. Mellein and beta -phenylethanol were found in the early stages of the culture. Degradat ive process of delta-lactones by the strain GK-1 was also investigated .