INFLUENCE OF AGE OF MYCELIUM AND WATER ACTIVITY OF THE MEDIUM ON AROMA PRODUCTION BY TRICHODERMA-VIRIDE GROWN ON SOLID SUBSTRATE

The production of 2-heptanone (cheese aroma) by Trichoderma viride TS cultivated on agar media was evaluated using headspace gas chromatographic analysis. The radial growth rate of the filamentous fungi increased with high water activity values, but the mycelial density was higher for lower water activity. Maximum aroma production of a culture was obtained at aw = 0.96. An apparatus intended to measure the aroma production of different areas of a mycelial colony was set up. The study of the aroma production of these areas showed that the production values were greatly different and were evolving with time. It was shown that the mycelium aroma production was maximum when mycelia were about 3.5 to 6.5 d old. © 1989.