GROWTH AND VOLATILE METABOLITE PRODUCTION OF ASPERGILLUS VERSICOLOR IN-HOUSE DUST

The ability of A. versicolor to grow and produce volatile metabolites, carbon dioxide, and microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOC) in ho use dust, was investigated. First, signs of metabolic activity were de tected after 7 d at relative humidity (RH) of air of 84-86% and after 2 d at RH of 96-98%. Within four weeks, the concentration of A. versic olor spores increased almost 100 fold at the lower RH and over 600 fol d at the higher RH. However, after the fast rising at the beginning of the incubation, CO2 concentration became steady probably because of t he depletion of favourable carbon sources. MVOC were analyzed by gas c hromatography with thermal desorption and mass selective detector and high pressure liquid chromatography. The results revealed that A. vers icolor can utilize various hydrocarbons and fatty acids in house dust. Some MVOC were also formed as a result of the biosynthesis of amino a cids. The main MVOC were 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, 1-octen-3-ol, 3-octanone, 2-heptanone, 2-pentanone, 2-hexanone, and 2-methylfuran. The last thre e compounds have not been presented earlier as volatile metabolites of this fungus. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.