Why do food and drink smell like earth?

摘要

Fungi have long been associated with earthy odours. One of the main contributors to this odour isgeosmin, a sesquiterpenoid metabolite produced by soil living fungi. Some food commodities are liable tocontamination by geosmin producing fungi. Under favourable environmental conditions the production ofgeosmin occurs. One of the producers of geosmin in fruits is Penicillium expansum which also producesthe mycotoxin patulin. Recent reports indicate that geosmin production by P. expansum is stimulated byBotrytis cinerea. However, the effect on patulin production is not known. The above issues will bediscussed in this contribution.