An endophytic Myrothecium inundatum producing volatile organic compounds

Abstract

Myrothecium inunduatum was isolated as an endophyte from a euphorbeacean herb, Acalypha indica in NE India. This fungus when grown in shake culture produced an abundance of foam. Contained in the foam was a mixture of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) some of which were hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon derivatives. The most prevalent compounds were 3-octanone, 3-octanol, and 7-octen-4-ol. Numerous other volatile organic compounds were also produced including many terpenes, organic acids, ketones, and alcohols. The VOCs of this fungus demonstrated growth inhibitory activity against a number of plant pathogenic fungi including Pythium ultimum and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. However, when grown in microaerophilic conditions, the organism produced a number of hydrocarbons of interest as fuel related hydrocarbons including octane and tentatively identified- 1,4- cyclohexadiene, 1-methyl- and cyclohexane, (1-ethylpropyl) and others. An NMR method was used to measure VOC production which peaked at day 15 in a time course experiment. Numerous substrates can serve to support the production of VOCs by this fungus including potato broth and beet pulp extracts.

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Citation

Banerjee, D. Strobel, G.A. Booth, E., Geary, B., Sears, J., Spakowicz, D., and Busse, S. 2010. An endophytic Myrothecium inundatum producing volatile organic compounds. Mycosphere 3(1): 241-247.
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