| Abstract
| - Volatile compounds emitted by Aspergillus strains having different abilities to produce ochratoxin Awere investigated. Thirteen strains of Aspergillus ochraceus, three belonging to the A. ochraceusgroup, and eight other species of Aspergillus were examined for their abilities to produce volatilecompounds and ochratoxin A on a wheat grain medium. The profiles of volatile compounds, analyzedusing SPME, in all A. ochraceus strains, regardless of their toxeginicity, were similar and comprisedmainly of 1-octen-3-ol, 3-octanone, 3-octanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, 1-octene, and limonene. Theprevailing compound was always 1-octen-3-ol. Mellein, which forms part of the ochratoxin A molecule,was found in both toxigenic and nontoxigenic strains. Volatile compounds produced by otherAspergillus strains were similar to those of A. ochraceus. Incubation temperatures (20, 24, and 27°C) and water content in the medium (20, 30, and 40%) influenced both volatile compounds formationand ochratoxin A biosynthesis efficiency, although conditions providing the maximum amount ofvolatiles were different from those providing the maximum amount of ochratoxin A. The pattern ofvolatiles produced by toxigenic A. ochraceus strains does not facilitate their differentiation fromnontoxigenic strains. Keywords: Aspergillus; volatiles; ochratoxin A; mellein
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