Fungal dynamic during apricot wine spontaneous fermentation and aromatic characteristics of Pichia kudriavzevii for potential as starter

•Fungal diversity of apricot wine during spontaneous fermentation was firstly characterized.•PLSR and SEM revealed the importance of Pichia populations to aroma.•The control of P. kudriavzevii on apricot wine aroma was elucidated.•P. kudriavzevii LQD5 presented a negative interaction with S. cerevisiae. Microbial activity during spontaneous fermentation in alcoholic beverages have driven in developing the chemical and aromatic characteristic of products but not clear in apricot wines. We have characterised the composition of fungal communities and volatile metabolites in apricot wine spontaneous fermentation among two Shaanxi regions. Results showed that Aureobasidium, Alternaria, Pichia and Saccharomyces, were the dominant fungi in apricot wine fermentation. A total of 80 volatiles including esters, alcohols, acids and terpenes were detected from two apricot wines. Their correlations suggested that apricot wine aroma was mainly affected by Pichia kudriavzevii, rather than Saccharomyces cerevisiae we commonly considered. Furthermore, reinforced inoculation of P. kudriavzevii LQD20 has exhibited the commendable potential in enhancing sensory qualities. The results of this study provide fundamental information of the indigenous microbiota in microbial dynamic during apricot wine fermentation, which would be helpful in exploiting the strains with potential for industrial use as starter cultures.