Odorous metabolites of a fungus, Chaetomium globosum Kinze ex Fr. Identification of geosmin, a musty-smelling compound.

Abstract

Geosmin, an earthy-musty smelling compound, and 2-phenylethanol were detected by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry combined with gas chromatography from the volatile metabolites of Chaetomium globosum KINZE ex FR., a fungus isolated from the soil at Sugadaira, Nagano Prefecture. It was suggested that fungi are partly responsible for the unpleasant earthy-musty odor and taste in public water supplies.