SummaryEight strains of Geotrichum candidum isolated from cheese were compared for aroma production. Twenty-four components, including alcohols, methyl ketones, fatty acids and esters, were identified by gas–liquid chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry of the volatile compounds produced by G. candidum cultures. Strains could be differentiated by their ability to produce dimethyldisulphide, phenol, phenylethanol and methyl ketones.

The aromatic profiles of four strains of Brevibacterium linens, one strain of Brevibacterium sp. and one strain of Microbacterium sp. were determined with some pure cultures of these microorganisms in standard trypcase soy liquid medium, which enabled four of these six strains to produce flavour compounds of ripened cheese. Thirty-two flavour compounds were identified by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The identified flavour compounds included the following: fatty acids, alcohols, methylketones, sulphur compounds, aromatic compounds and a pyrazine. Some important differences were found among the six strains studied. The four strains of B. linens had similar flavour profiles. Their typical flavour was probably due to dimethyltrisulphide. The two other strains did not appear to produce this compound. Three strains produced significant amounts of the floral aromas phenylethanol and phenylpropanone.

No abstract