Headspace analysis identifies indole and 1-octen-3-ol as the “coal tar” odor of Tricholoma inamoenum

• Published in: Mycological progress 2004-11, Vol.3 (4), p.325-328
• Main Authors: Wood, William F, Largent, David L, Henkel, Terry W
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Coal; Gas chromatography; Mass spectrometry; Odors; Organic compounds; Solvent extraction; Solvents; Tar; Tricholoma; VOCs; Volatile organic compounds
• ISSN: 1617-416X; 1861-8952
• DOI: 10.1007/s11557-006-0102-z

The odor emanating from sporocarps of Tricholoma inamoenum has been described as resembling "coal tar". To characterize the compounds responsible for this odor, volatile chemicals released from T. inamoenum sporocarps were collected using solid phase microextraction (SPME). Subsequent analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) showed only indole and 1-octen-3-ol, so these compounds must be responsible for the "coal tar" odor of T. inamoenum. Mushroom pileus size was a factor in the amount of indole produced; larger mushrooms released 25-times more indole than smaller ones. A comparison of SPME and CH^sub 2^Cl^sub 2^ solvent extraction of sporocarps showed major differences in the volatile organic compounds. Benzaldehyde and phenyl acetaldehyde were the major compounds in the solvent extracts, but were not detected in the SPME experiments. Tissue disruption of the mushroom before solvent extraction showed up to a 40-fold increase in the amount of 1-octen-3-ol present.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]