Identification of volatile metabolites from rice fermented by the fungusMonascus purpureus (Ang-kak)

Eighty volatile compounds that create typical ang-kak aroma have been identified in samples of rice grains fermented byMonascus purpureus and in cultivation media afterM. purpureus fermentation. These volatile metabolites include alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, esters and terpenoid compounds. Identification has been performed by means of GC-MS after sample distillation and extraction with dichloromethane.     

Origin and Genetic Diversity of Aromatic Rice Varieties, Molecular Breeding and Chemical and Genetic Basis of Rice Aroma

Aroma is an important quality attribute of rice and is a key determinant of its market value. Among the different groups of aromatic rice varieties ‘Basmati’ from the Indian subcontinent and ‘Jasmine’ from Thailand occupy prime position in the international market. In addition, there are a large number of premium short-grain aromatic rice varieties cultivated by farmers in India and South-East Asia that have not been fully commercially utilised as yet. The origin and evolution of aromatic rice varieties is being unravelled by application of genomic tools. The common alleles of aroma gene seem to have their origin in the aromatic group of rice varieties native to the Sub-Himalayan region. Of more than two hundred volatile compounds present in the rice grain, 2-acetyl-l-pyrolline (2-AP) is considered as the key aroma compound present in almost all the aromatic rice varieties. However, there is significant variation in the type and intensity of aroma in the different groups of aromatic rice varieties suggesting involvement of additional chemical compounds in varying proportions. Studies have been undertaken to understand the genetics of rice aroma and to map the genes or quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling aroma expression. Of the three mapped aroma QTL, qaro8.1 located on rice chromosome S is the most significant and it represents a non-functional allele of BADH2 gene coding for enzyme betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase. Functional allele of the BADH2 gene makes rice non-aromatic. Similarly, specific alleles of BADH1 gene located on rice chromosome 4 within the aroma QTL qaro4.1 show association with the aromatic rice varieties. The gene underlying QTL qaro3.1 on chromosome 3 has not yet been deciphered. Functional molecular markers have been developed for the major aroma QTL on chromosome S and marker-assisted breeding for high yielding aromatic rice varieties is now a reality. To safeguard the reputation of Basmati rice an international code of practice has been developed where DNA markers help check the purity of commercial samples. There is need to use advanced genomic and metabolomic approaches to further study the minor genes controlling rice aroma and understand the variation in type, intensity and stability of rice aroma. It is also required to improve the production and marketing of short grain aromatic rice varieties.     

Volatile compounds produced by Lactobacillus fermentum,Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida krusei in single starter culture fermentations of Ghanaian maize dough

AIMS: To identify and compare the volatile compounds associated with maize dough samples prepared by spontaneous fermentation and by the use of added starter cultures in Ghana. METHODS AND RESULTS: The starter cultures examined were Lactobacillus fermentum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida krusei. For identification of aroma volatiles, extracts by the Likens-Nickerson simultaneous distillation and extraction technique were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and using a trained panel of four judges by GC-Olfactometry (GC-sniffing). Compounds identified by GC-MS in maize dough samples after 72 h of fermentation included 20 alcohols, 22 carbonyls, 11 esters, seven acids, a furan and three phenolic compounds. Of the total 64 volatile compounds, 51 were detected by GC-sniffing as contributing to the aroma of the different fermented dough samples. Spontaneously fermented maize dough was characterized by higher levels of carbonyl compounds while fermentations with added L. fermentum recorded the highest concentration of acetic acid. S. cerevisiae produced higher amounts of fusel alcohols and increasing levels of esters with fermentation time and C. krusei showed similarity to L. fermentum with lower levels of most volatiles identified. CONCLUSION: The present study has given a detailed picture of the aroma compounds in fermented maize and demonstrated that the predominant micro-organisms in fermented maize dough can be used as starter cultures to modify the aroma of fermented maize dough. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The study has documented the advantage of using starter cultures in African traditional food processing and provided a scientific background for introducing better controlled fermentations.     

Identification of Vitis vinifera (-)-alpha-terpineol synthase by in silico screening of full-length cDNA ESTs and functional characterization of recombinant terpene synthase

The flavour and aroma of certain Vitis vinifera grape varieties is dominated by volatile terpenes and small volatile aldehydes. Monoterpenes contribute to the final grape and wine aroma and flavour in form of free volatiles and as glycoside conjugates of monoterpene alcohols. Typical monoterpenol components of the cultivar Gewürztraminer and other aroma-rich grape varieties are linalool, geraniol, nerol, citronellol, and alpha-terpineol. In a functional genomics effort to identify genes for the formation of monoterpene alcohols in V. vinifera, a database of full-length cDNA sequences was screened in silico and yielded two clones for putative monoterpene synthases. The gene products were functionally characterized by expression in Escherichia coli, in vitro enzyme assay and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) product identification as multi-product (-)-alpha-terpineol synthases.     

VOLATILE FLAVOR COMPOUNDS AFFECTING CONSUMER ACCEPTABILITY OF KIWIFRUIT

Sensory research on kiwifruit has shown that specific sugars and acids, and volatile flavor compounds have causative effects on "sweet" and "acid" aroma and flavor attributes. New Zealand consumers (n = 162) assessed the perceived flavor intensity and acceptability of three volatile flavor compounds (ethyl butanoate, E-2-hexenal and hexanal) at varying levels in a model base solution. Increasing levels of ethyl butanoate positively affected all the acceptability attributes ("overall liking,""liking of aroma,""liking of flavor") as well as increased the perceived intensity of "kiwifruit aroma" and "kiwifruit flavor." Increasing levels of E-2-hexenal negatively affected all the acceptability attributes but increased the perceived intensity of "kiwifruit aroma" and "acid flavor." An increase in hexanal increased perceived intensity of "kiwifruit aroma." Ethyl butanoate and E-2-hexenel at the levels tested had the most prominent effects on consumer perceived intensity and acceptability of the "kiwifruit flavor."