International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, 16(5): 477–484 (2014) 477 1045-4403/14/$35.00 © 2014 Begell House, Inc. www.begellhouse.com HS/GC-MS Analyzed Chemical Composition of the Aroma of Fruiting Bodies of Two Species of Genus Lentinus (Higher Basidiomycetes) Gerardo Mata, 1 Karina Valdez, 2 Remedios Mendoza, 3 & Ángel Trigos 2,4, * 1 Instituto de Ecología, A.C., El Haya, Xalapa, Veracruz, México; 2 Laboratorio de Alta Tecnología de Xalapa, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, México; 3 Unidad de Servicios de Apoyo en Resolución Analítica, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, México; and 4 Instituto de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, México *Address all correspondence to: Ángel Trigos, Laboratorio de Alta Tecnología de Xalapa, Universidad Veracruzana, Calle Médicos, 5 Col. Unidad del Bosque, 91010 Xalapa, Veracruz, México; atrigos@uv.mx ABSTRACT: The chemical composition of the aroma of fresh fruiting bodies of the cultivated mushroom Lentinus boryanus is described here and compared with medicinal shiitake mushroom L. edodes. Volatile compounds were analyzed through headspace sampling coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The mushrooms under study were grown on different substrates based on barley straw, sugarcane bagasse, oak wood sawdust, and beech leaf litter. It was determined that L. boryanus as well as L. edodes contain an abundant amount of a volatile compound identiied as 3-octanone with a sweet fruity aroma. On the other hand, only L. boryanus produced 3-octanol a characteristic aroma of cod liver oil. In total, 10 aromatic compounds were identiied, some of which were obtained exclusively in one species or substrate. KEY WORDS: medicinal and edible mushrooms, Lentinus edodes, Lentinus boryanus, sugar cane bagasse, barley straw, oak sawdust, beech litter ABBREVIATIONS: HS/GC-MS, headspace sampling coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; PDA, potato dextrose agar I. INTRODUCTION The cultivation of edible mushrooms worldwide has evolved over time and is now seen as a respectable development of economic importance, especially in the production of species of Agaricus, Pleurotus, and Lentinus. Lentinus edodes (Berk.) Singer, bet- ter known as the shiitake mushroom, is a type of mushroom that is highly prized in Asia, Europe, and North America. Currently, this species is the second most cultivated commercially in the world after the white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus (J. Lge) Imbach. 1 The aroma of Lentinus edodes is one of the reasons for which it is appreciated. Vola- tile compounds of shiitake mushrooms have been widely studied and identiied as containing eight- carbon compounds and sulphur compounds. 2–7 On the other hand, L. boryana (Berk. et Mont.) Sing- er is a neotropical edible mushroom known in the literature under different synonyms: L. boryana, Lentinula cubensis, L. glabratus, L. proximus, L. dentosa, Panus liprieurii, Armilariella umbilicata, and Agaricus ixodes. 8,9 This species has been cited in Mexico from different regions where it grows in tropical and subtropical forests. 10 Its distribution also includes the southeastern United States, the Ca- ribbean Islands, and Central and South America. 8,11 This species is sold in popular markets in the center of the State of Veracruz, Mexico, where it is known as hongo de encino, hongo de palo, and cuerudo (oak mushroom, wood mushroom, and leathery, re- spectively), 12 whereas in Chiapas it is known by the indigenous name of nla. Due to morphological simi- larities between species L. boryanus (American) and L. edodes (Asian), the irst was colloquially known as “American Shiitake.” However, despite the mor-