The Volatilomes of <i>Penicillium crustosum</i> G10 and <i>Penicillium solitum</i> SA

<i>Penicillium crustosum</i> and <i>Penicillium solitum</i> are common molds known for their ability to thrive at cool temperatures and low water activities. They are frequently associated with the contamination of cheeses, pome fruits, and meats. While many strains of these species are recognized for producing bioactive metabolites, their volatile metabolism remains poorly understood. In this study, a comprehensive gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was employed to identify and analyze the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by <i>P. crustosum</i> strain G10 and <i>P. solitum</i> SA. When cultivated on laboratory media, a total of 25 distinct VOCs were identified from <i>P. crustosum</i> G10, and 17 from <i>P. solitum</i> SA. The VOCs produced by G10 were classified into six categories based on their functional groups: alcohols (four compounds), nitriles (three compounds), alkenes (four compounds), ketones (two compounds), esters (five compounds), and alkanes (three compounds). Notably, several of these VOCs have known biological activities. For instance, 2-tetradecanol and benzyl nitrile have been developed as environmentally safe pest control agents; (E)-5-eicosene exhibits anticancer function; and 4-acetylphenoxyacetic acid shows potential for the inhibition of HIV. Additionally, (Z)-7-hexadecene, octadecanal, and 5-dodecyldihydro-2(3H)-furanone are recognized as insect volatile pheromones. The VOCs from <i>P. solitum</i> SA were grouped into four main categories: alcoholic compounds (two VOCs), aromatic compounds (four VOCs), esters (three VOCs), and alkene compounds (three VOCs). The discussion of these compounds' potential applications offers new perspectives on their future utilization.