Effect of gamma-irradiation on flavor compounds of fresh mushrooms

Fresh mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) were gamma-irradiated with doses of 1,2, and 5 kGy. The volatile compounds were isolated using a Lickens-Nickerson apparatus and analyzed using gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The amount of total volatiles was greatly affected by the doses applied. The amounts of benzaldehyde and benzyl alcohol were not affected by gamma-irradiation and ranged from 8.94 to 11.79 and from 0.696 to 1.503 micrograms/g, respectively. The amounts of eight-carbon compounds decreased as the doses of gamma-irradiation increased, from 41.73 for the control (0 kGy) to 20.06 (1 kGy), 8.77 (2 kGy), and 4.04 micrograms/g (5 kGy irradiated mushrooms). The major eight-carbon compound was 1-octen-3-ol, and its amount decreased from 30.34 (the control) to 14.18 (1 kGy), 6.22 (2 kGy), and 2.92 micrograms/g (5 kGy)