Effects of light and temperature on the odor production of 2-methylisoborneol-producing Pseudanabaena sp. and geosmin-producing Anabaena ucrainica (cyanobacteria)

• Inverse correlation between geosmin/MIB production and growth in investigated species.
• The production of geomsin/MIB increased significantly under growth inhibited conditions.
• More proportion of geosmin/MIB was released into extracellular under growth inhibited conditions.
• Accumulation of geosmin/MIB is the reflect of decreased cellular metabolic activity.

Frequent off-flavor events caused by geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) have attracted research on the main producers, cyanobacteria. This study evaluated the effects of light and temperature on the odor production of MIB-producing Pseudanabaena sp. Lauterborn and geosmin-producing Anabaena ucrainica (Schhorb.) Watanabe. The maximum MIB production and lowest growth rate (indicated by the chlorophyll a (Chl a)) were observed at 35 °C compared with that at 10 °C and 25 °C. Cultures grown under a light intensity of 60 μmol photons m−2 s−1 demonstrated the highest MIB production and minimum growth rate, whereas the minimum MIB production and maximum growth rate were obtained under 10 μmol photons m−2 s−1. Similar patterns were observed for geosmin production. A. ucrainica had the highest geosmin production and lowest Chl a concentration under 10 °C and 60 μmol photons m−2 s−1. Moreover, greater proportions of geosmin and MIB were released into extracellular under growth-inhibiting temperatures and light intensities. An inverse correlation between odor production and the cell growth rate was suggested, and this relationship may reflect the competition for substrates of odor and Chl a synthesis. Thus, the accumulation of geosmin and MIB was probably the result of decreased cellular metabolic activity in cyanobacteria.