Hydrolysis of grape monoterpenyl glycosides by Candida molischiana and Candida wickerhamii β‐glucosidases

The exocellular β‐glucosidases of Candida molischiana and Candida wickerhamii are able to hydrolyse geranyl, neryl, citronellyl, linalyl and α‐terpinyl‐β‐D‐glucopyranosides. The nature of the aglycone residue greatly affects the rate of hydrolysis. Glucosides with a tertiary alcohol as aglycone residue are more slowly hydrolysed than those with a primary alcohol. The β‐glucosidase from C molischiana is also able to hydrolse α‐L‐arabinofuranosides. This results in the release of monoterpenols from a glycoside extract from grape juice.