PRODUCTION OF 6-PENTYL-ALPHA-PYRONE BY TRICHODERMA SP FROM VEGETABLE-OILS

A total of 108 strains of Trichoderma sp. were compared for their abil ity to produce 6-pentyl-alpha-pyrone (6PP), a coconut-like aroma. Amon g them, one strain, Trichoderma viride TSP2, demonstrated a good abili ty to produce 6PP from several commercial vegetable oils including cas tor oil (C18:1, OH n-7 = 89.3%), hazelnut oil (C18:1 = 78.6%), grapese ed oil (C18:2 = 66%) and linseed oil (alpha-C18:3 = 46.6%). By increas ing the oil concentration from 5 to 20%, 1.2 g l(-1) of 6PP was achiev ed after 6 days of cultivation. In comparison, 80 mg l(-1) of 6PP were produced when glucose (30 g l(-1)) was used as the carbon source. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.