Eight strains of Neurospora sp., isolated from beiju in various regions of the state of Maranhao, Brazil, and the culture medium of the Neurospora sp., have shown a pleasant fruity odour. Strains of Neurospora from NRRL collections and the strains from soil in the Sao Paulo area did not produce fruity aromas. It was established by dynamic headspace/gas chromatography that the nature of the fruity aroma was ethyl hexanoate. Furthermore, the strains of Neurospora sp. produced 3-methyl-1-butanol, 1-octen-3-ol, ethyl acetate and ethanol.981113001302