A review of the volatile metabolites of fungi found on wood substrates

Abstract

The holdings of eight collections of fungi have been examined for organisms isolated from wood and/or trees. Further selection of these fungi has been made according to their reported ability to produce volatile, biologically active metabolites. It is emphasized that the isolates in the collections do not necessarily produce such metabolites. The list of fungi fulfilling these conditions is slightly augmented by reports we have found in the literature, where the fungi concerned have not yet been deposited. The biochemistry of these compounds is considered with particular emphasis on their biosynthesis including that by Homo sapiens. The physiological and toxicological activity of these metabolites is reviewed especially with reference to their potential role in the complex symbioses existent in, for example, a tree. The review concludes with a discussion of areas of botany deserving increased attention in the hope that this will stimulate further work. The statements in the review are based on 173 references.

The production of myco-diesel hydrocarbons and their derivatives by the endophytic fungus Gliocladium roseum (NRRL 50072)

“…Fungi, on the other hand, commonly make longchain hydrocarbons along with a series of low-molecularmass alcohols, ethers, esters, ketones and terpenoids (Sunesson et al, 1995). Wood-inhabiting fungi seem to make a wide range of volatile products (McAfee &Taylor, 1999). The production of these volatile products by microbes is dependent upon the environmental conditions, the support medium and the microbial species being studied (Sunesson et al, 1995).…”

“…Many fungi are known to produce octane, 1-octene and lower-molecular-mass hydrocarbons (McAfee & Taylor, 1999;Sunesson et al, 1995). Since G. roseum (NRRL 50072) produces a number of volatile hydrocarbons along with some corresponding oxygenated products (acids, esters, ethers and alcohols), it seemed important to determine if a modification of the environmental and cultural conditions of this organism would result in the production of more reduced compounds that are even more closely related to diesel fuel (Stinson et al, 2003).…”

Volatile antimicrobials from Muscodor crispans, a novel endophytic fungus

“…While fungi producing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been isolated and studied chemically in the past 30-40 years, none have been found that have such a comprehensive spectrum of antimicrobial activity as that of Muscodor albus (Strobel et al, 2001;McAfee & Taylor, 1999). M. albus was the first endophytic fungus demonstrated to produce VOCs with broad-spectrum killing propeties against other microbes, including plant and human pathogens (Strobel et al, 2001).…”

Volatile organic compound production by organisms in the genus Ascocoryne and a re-evaluation of myco-diesel production by NRRL 50072

“…Fungi represent a rich source of bioactive natural products and have been studied for their production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (McAfee & Taylor, 1999;Strobel, 2006;Strobel et al, 2001). Microbial VOCs are typically low-molecular-mass organics derived from both primary and secondary metabolism pathways that include compounds used as industrial chemicals and aroma components (Korpi et al, 2009).…”