Plant Sciences & Plant Pathology
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://scholarworks.montana.edu/handle/1/12
The Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology is part of the College of Agriculture at Montana State University in Bozeman. An exciting feature of this department is the diversity of programs in Plant Biology, Crop Science, Plant Pathology, Horticulture, Mycology, Plant Genetics and Entomology. The department offers BS, MS, and Ph.D. degree program
Browse
3 results
Search Results
Item Carbon chain length of biofuel- and flavor-relevant volatile organic compounds produced by lignocellulolytic fungal endophytes changes with culture temperature(2017-09) Schoen, Heidi R.; Hunt, Kristopher A.; Strobel, Gary A.; Peyton, Brent M.; Carlson, Ross P.Three fungal endophytes from the genus Nodulisporium were studied for volatile organic compound (VOC) production. All three fungi grew on a wide range of carbon substrates ranging from simple sugars to waste biomass sources. The fungi synthesized a number of long and short-chain VOCs, including eucalyptol; 1-butanol, 3-methyl; 1-octen-3-ol; and benzaldehyde, all with potential applications as biofuel or flavor compounds. As culture temperature decreased, average VOC carbon chain length increased, especially for VOCs associated with fatty acid metabolism. The results provide a template for controlling synthesis of desired VOCs through selection of species and culturing conditions.Item Resolution of volatile fuel compound profiles from Ascocoryne sarcoides: A comparison by proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometry and solid phase microextraction gas chromatography mass spectrometry(2012-04) Mallette, Natasha D.; Knighton, W. Berk; Strobel, Gary A.; Carlson, Ross P.; Peyton, Brent M.Volatile hydrocarbon production by Ascocoryne sacroides was studied over its growth cycle. Gas-phase compounds were measured continuously with a proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) and at distinct time points with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) using head space solid phase microextraction (SPME). The PTR-MS ion signal permitted temporal resolution of the volatile production while the SPME results revealed distinct compound identities. The quantitative PTR-MS results showed the volatile production was dominated by ethanol and acetaldehyde, while the concentration of the remainder of volatiles consistently reached 2,000 ppbv. The measurement of alcohols from the fungal culture by the two techniques correlated well. Notable compounds of fuel interest included nonanal, 1-octen-3-ol, 1-butanol, 3-methyl- and benzaldehyde. Abiotic comparison of the two techniques demonstrated SPME fiber bias toward higher molecular weight compounds, making quantitative efforts with SPME impractical. Together, PTR-MS and SPME GC-MS were shown as valuable tools for characterizing volatile fuel compound production from microbiological sources.Item Evaluation of cellulose as a substrate for hydrocarbon fuel production by Ascocoryne sarcoides (NRRL 50072)(2014-02) Mallette, Natasha D.; Pankrantz, E. M.; Busse, S.; Strobel, Gary A.; Carlson, Ross P.; Peyton, Brent M.The fungal endophyte, Ascocoryne sarcoides, produced aviation, gasoline and diesel-relevant hydrocarbons when grown on multiple substrates including cellulose as the sole carbon source. Substrate, growth stage, culturing pH, temperature and medium composition were statistically significant factors for the type and quantity of hydrocarbons produced. Gasoline range (C5-C12), aviation range (C8-C16) and diesel range (C9-C36) organics were detected in all cultured media. Numerous non-oxygenated hydrocarbons were produced such as isopentane, 3,3-dimethyl hexane and d-limonene during exponential growth phase. Growth on cellulose at 23˚C and pH 5.8 produced the highest overall yield of fuel range organics (105 mg * g·biomass−1). A change in metabolism was seen in late stationary phase from catabolism of cellulose to potential oxidation of hydrocarbons resulting in the production of more oxygenated compounds with longer carbon chain length and fewer fuel-related compounds. The results outline rational strategies for controlling the composition of the fuel-like compounds by changing culturing parameters.