Literature indicates a broad contribution of microorganisms to the odours occurring in foods, Own research on volatile odour compounds produced by moulds, bacteria and yeasts growing on cereal grains hase been concentrated to I-octen-3-01, especially, which was found to be produced in great amounts by certain moulds as well as by mushrooms both growing wild and cultivated. In the bacteria strains studied about 50 volatile compounds have been identified. In most of the bacterial cultures developed on cereal grain acetoin was the predominant substance.Practical applications are proposed and discussed. On one side a flavour concentrate may be produced from mould cultures yielding fungal odour. Otherwise the main microbial metabolites could be used as indices of the growth rate of individual groups of the microflora on cereal grains and other foodstuffs.Strains capable of producing odour substances have been detected in all classes of microorganisms. As a matter of fact certain microorganisms produce the base for various foods while others have been p r w d 10 be the source of off-flavours. The contribution of microflora to the development of odour and taste of such foods as baked products, fermented beverages, dairy products, pickles, oriental foods has been reviewed by MAR-GALITH et al. [26]. As early as in 1923 OMELIANSKI gave a review of aroma-producing microorganisms. The author described the microorganisms producing a series of odours from sweetish resembling limetree flower. produced by Pseudomonus pyocyanea to acrid yielded by the cultures of Bucilfusfitzianus [33]. As stated by MANN [25] Pseudomonus ueroginose produces 2-aminoacetophenone yielding a grape-like or sweety-aromatic odour. Scientists from the University of Connecticut [3,4, 14-161 studied the applicability of fungi as agents for the production of new flavour compounds. They proved the fungus Cerutocysiis variusporu to be capable of producing a series of monoterpenes including linalool, neral, geranial, citronellol and geraniol [3]. The fungus Trumetes odorutu was stated to produce not only monoterpenes but also considerable amounts of methyl-p-methoxyphenyl-acetate yielding a pleasant anise-like odour [ 141. As stated by COLLINS et al. [4] Trichodermu viride can produce 6-pentyl-2-pyrone yielding a coconut-like aroma. According to HALM et al.[16] Penicillium decumbens cultures yield a distinctive odour suggestive of soap perfume, the main odour compounds being thujopsene, 3-octanone, nerolidol, I-octen-3-01 and phenylethyl alcohol. As shown by HALIM et al. [15] the fungus Myouciu udu produces a pleasant fruity aroma. The compounds contributing to the latter aroma were p-tolualdehyde yielding an almond-like odour, p-methylacetophenone giving a sweet fruity odour and 2-4-methykyclo-hex-3-ene ethyl alcohol -a distinctive fruity odour.In Japan TAHARA et al. [41,42] carried out a study on the volatile compounds produced by the yeast Sporobolomyces odorus. The identified compounds included alcohols, esters, carbonyls and the following lactones: y-dec...