Volatile fungal metabolites and their relation to the spoilage of agricultural commodities

Spoilage of agricultural commodities, mainly grains, due to fungal deterioration is a significant source of their loss. Fungi invading stored commodities influence their quality causing decrease in germination, dry matter loss, heating, and off-odor formation. They can also produce mycotoxins - metabolites harmful to animals and humans. Volatile metabolites produced by fungi can be characteristic markers of fungal presence. This paper reviews proposed methods for fungal contamination assessment based on volatile metabolites, together with literature on volatile metabolites produced by fungi belonging mainly to three genera: Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium being the most important in grains and other agricultural commodities spoilage.