Interconversion of verbenols and verbenone by identified yeasts isolated from the spruce bark beetleIps typographus.

Six yeast strains have been isolated and identified from the spruce bark beetle,Ips typographus. We have studied the ability of the yeasts to interconvertcis-verbenol,trans-verbenol, and verbenone. (1S)-cis-Verbenol is an active component in the aggregation pheromone ofIps typographus. The isolatedCandida molischiana/ Hansenula capsulata strain can convert both (1R)- and (1S)-cis-verbenol to verbenone. TheCandida nitratophila strain converts (1R)-cis-verbenol totrans-verbenol and (1S)-cis-verbenol to verbenone. Some of the yeast strains produce 3-methylbutanol, 2-methylpropanol, and 2-phenylethanol after growth in Sabouraud medium.