Fungal volatiles: an environmentally friendly tool to control pathogenic microorganisms in plants

Abstract

Fungi are an extraordinary and immensely diverse group of microorganisms that colonize many habitats even competing with other microorganisms. Fungi have received recognition for interesting metabolic activities that have an enormous variety of biotechnological applications. Previously, volatile organic compounds produced by fungi (FVOCs) have been demonstrated to have a great capacity for use as antagonist products against plant pathogens. However, in recent years, FVOCs have been received attention as potential alternatives to the use of traditional pesticides and, therefore, as important eco-friendly biotechnological tools to control plant pathogens. Therefore, highlighting the current state of knowledge of these fascinating FVOCs, the actual detection techniques and the bioactivity against plant pathogens is essential to the discovery of new products that can be used as biopesticides.

An endophyte of Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex. Benth, producing menthol, phenylethyl alcohol and 3-hydroxypropionic acid, and other volatile organic compounds

“…The role of this endophyte in planta may be to inhibit the growth of pathogens responsible for root rot of the host, which is a common problem encountered on domestication of the host plant. These VOCs may also be involved in the growth and development of the plant (Schalchli et al 2014;Ditengou et al 2015).…”

“…These compounds act as signaling molecules to facilitate interactions with other microorganisms and plants, thus influencing the dynamics of the ecosystem (Wenke et al 2010;Schalchli et al 2014;Ditengou et al 2015). VOCs of microorganisms influence plant growth and development through various mechanisms, for example by inhibiting the plant pathogens, by favorably modulating the plant gene expression, and by programming the plant root architecture (Minerdi et al 2011;Schalchli et al 2014;Ditengou et al 2015).…”

“…Several species of endophytes produce secondary metabolites called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that vapourize at ambient temperatures (Schalchli et al 2014;Hung et al 2015). These compounds act as signaling molecules to facilitate interactions with other microorganisms and plants, thus influencing the dynamics of the ecosystem (Wenke et al 2010;Schalchli et al 2014;Ditengou et al 2015).…”

Trichoderma as an efficacious bioagent for combating biotic and abiotic stresses of wheat-A review

“…Trichoderma and Muscodor species have been widely evaluated for their capacity to produce a wide range of volatile metabolites (FVOCs-volatile organic compounds produced by fungi) that can be used as biocides against plant pathogens. FVOCs produced by the endophytic fungus Muscodor albus inhibited the germination of the teliospores of T. indica that cause wheat karnal bunt (Schalchli et al, 2014). Another important wheat disease, Tan spot, is a stubble-borne, splash-dispersed disease and problematic in the USA and Australia and some regions of Nepal.…”

The ecological role of volatile mediated interactions belowground

“…Hence, they are proposed as ecofriendly alternative compared to the commonly used hazardous pesticides in crop protection (Weisskopf 2013;Kanchiswamy et al 2015b;Schalchli et al 2016;Bailly & Weisskopf 2017). However, the activity of VOCs can strongly vary between lab and field conditions and because of high evaporation rates the application into open field can be challenging (Song & Ryu 2013;Kanchiswamy et al 2015a Application of protists to plant rhizosphere can enhance the abundance and activity of bacteria with plant-beneficial traits including the production of toxic secondary metabolite or growth promoting hormones (Jousset 2017;Weidner et al 2017).…”