Conversion of Citron (Citrus junos) Peel Oil by Enterobacter agglomerans

Citron peel oil was extracted from citron (Citrus funas) fruit by steam distillation, and was used as starting material for microbial conversion to synthesize attractive flavor compounds by using Enterobacter agglomerans 6L. E. agglomerans was isolated from citron peel and was able to metabolize the citron peel oil and grew well ($A_{600}:\;3.0$) on the citron peel oil as the sole carbon source. Multiple terpene metabolites were produced by E. agglomerans 6L on M9 salt media with citron oil vapor. The identified bioconversion products from the citron peel oil included trans-2-decenal, octanol, $\delta$­valerolactone, $\gamma$-valerolactone, cryptone, hydroxycitronellol, cuminol, and $\gamma$-dodecalactone.