Analysis of the Volatile Flavor Compounds Produced during the Growth Stages of the Shiitake Mushrooms (Lentinus edodes)

Volatile flavor components, produced during the young (P-1), immature (P-2), mature (P-3) and old (P-4) growth stages, of shiitake mushrooms (Lentinus edodes), were extracted by simultaneous steam distillation and extraction (SDE), using a mixture of n-pentane and diethyl ether (1:1, v/v) as the extraction solvent. Analyses of the concentrates, by capillary gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS), led to the identification of 129, 129, 111 and 120 components in the P-1, 2, 3 and 4 stages, respectively. The major volatile compounds were l-octen-3-o1, 3-octanol, 3-octanone and 4-octen-3-one. Ethanol and ethyl acetate were also detected in large amounts. The characteristic volatile compounds found in shiitake mushrooms, such as dimethyl disulfide, dimethyl trisulfide and 1, 2, 4-thiolane, were at low concentrations in all samples. The amount of l-octen-3-o1 decreased as growth progressed, but concentrations of 3-octanone increased. The amount of 4-octen-3-ol decreased from P-1 to P-3, but was at a high concentrations in P-4. The concentration of 3-octanol gradually increased and reached its highest concentration in P-3, but decreased in P-4. The C8-compounds comprised 70.91, 64.09, 64.29 and 60.01 % in the P-1, 2, 3 and 4 stages, respectively, so decreased gradually with growth. The S-compounds were found in the highest concentrations in P-3.