Production of 6-pentyl-alpha-pyrone by Trichoderma harzianum in liquid and solid state cultures

The aim of this work was to compare the production of 6-pentyl-alpha-pyrone (6-PP), a compound which has a strong coconut-like aroma, by Trichoderma harzianum in liquid and in solid state cultivation (LC and SSC). The same liquid medium was used to impregnate sugarcane pith bagasse, used as support in SSC. The maximum concentration of 6-PP produced by T. harzianum in SSC was 2.8 mg (g dry cell mass)(-1) equivalent to 0.9 g l(-1) of impregnation medium, which is 17 times higher than that obtained in LC. The glucose consumed to yield 6-PP in SSC was 52 mg (g glucose)(-1), eight times higher than that found in LC. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.