Impact of Different Carbon Sources on Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Produced during Fermentation by WLP672 Measured Using Proton Transfer Reaction Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS).

Bacterial fermentation is considered to be a cost-effective means of generating desired flavour compounds from plant-based substrates. However, the wide range of substrates present in plants makes it challenging to understand how individual components impact on flavour volatile organic compound (VOC) production. To simplify this, a defined medium can be used to better understand VOCs production with regard to individual compounds. In the current study, the VOCs produced by the lactic acid bacterium, WLP672, growing in a defined medium containing different carbon sources (either glucose (DM), fructose (DMFr) or citrate (DMCi)) under a range of fermentation conditions (time: 0, 7, and 14 days; and temperature: 25 and 35 °C) were assessed using proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS). Among the detected mass peaks (/), after 7 days of fermentation, the concentrations of / 45.033 (t.i. acetaldehyde), / 49.011 (t.i. methanethiol), and / 89.060 (t.i. ethyl acetate) were significantly ( < 0.05) higher in DM at 35 °C than all other treatments at either temperature. The knowledge obtained will help to produce desirable LAB fermentation flavour VOCs or VOC mixtures that could be used in developing plant-based analogues with acceptable sensory properties.