1-Octen-3-ol and 10-oxo-trans-8-decenoic acid (ODA) are the products of the enzymic breakdown of linoleic acid (LA) in mushrooms by a lipoxygenase and a hydroperoxide lyase. Based on this reaction, natural 1-octen-3-ol and ODA can be produced with a crude enzyme homogenate from mushrooms in a bioreactor. The influence on this reaction of temperature (5-24degreesC), concentration of LA (1.3-13.3 mg/g mushrooms), stirring speed (500-1500 rpm), concentration of oxygen (23.2-100% saturation), and pH (6.5-7.5) was studied in a 11 standard bioreactor by monitoring the production of 1-octen-3-ol. A central composite rotatable and an algorithmic experimental design were used to study the five factors. Only LA concentration and temperature were found to affect significantly the yield of the reaction. The optimal parameters that maximized the production of 1-octen-3-ol were 12 mg of linoleic acid (99% purity) per gram of mushroom, 7.8degreesC, and a pH of 7.5; with a predicted yield of 2.7 +/- 0.4 mg of 1-octen-3-ol per gram of mushroom. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.