The Effect of Volatile Organic Compounds on Different Organisms: Agrobacteria, Plants and Insects

Abstract

Bacteria and fungi emit a huge variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can provide a valuable arsenal for practical use. However, the biological activities and functions of the VOCs are poorly understood. This work aimed to study the action of individual VOCs on the bacteria Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Arabidopsis thaliana plants, and fruit flies Drosophila melanogaster. VOCs used in the work included ketones, alcohols, and terpenes. The potent inhibitory effect on the growth of A. tumefaciens was shown for 2-octanone and isoamyl alcohol. Terpenes (−)-limonene and (+)-α-pinene practically did not act on bacteria, even at high doses (up to 400 µmol). 2-Butanone and 2-pentanone increased the biomass of A. thaliana at doses of 200–400 μmol by 1.5–2 times; 2-octanone had the same effect at 10 μmol and decreased plant biomass at higher doses. Isoamyl alcohol and 2-phenylethanol suppressed plant biomass several times at doses of 50–100 μmol. Plant seed germination was most strongly suppressed by isoamyl alcohol and 2-phenylethanol. The substantial killing effect (at low doses) on D. melanogaster was exerted by the terpenes and the ketones 2-octanone and 2-pentanone. The obtained data showed new information about the biological activities of VOCs in relation to organisms belonging to different kingdoms.

Effects of Volatile Organic Compounds on Biofilms and Swimming Motility of Agrobacterium tumefaciens

“…Since, as previously reported, ketones and other VOCs inhibit the growth of agrobacteria [ 16 , 18 ], it can be assumed that the main reason for the inhibition of biofilm formation and the action of VOCs on cells in mature biofilms is the suppression of bacterial growth. Indeed, the patterns of the effects of VOCs on the formation of biofilms and the survival of cells in mature biofilms correlate with the effects of VOCs on the growth of A. tumefaciens .…”

“…Recently, we investigated the biological activity of eight pure VOCs of various types. We showed [ 18 ] that of the three volatile ketones studied, the most significant inhibition of A. tumefaciens growth was observed with the action of 2-octanone (at low doses of 25–100 µmol (32.26–129.04 g/m 3 )), and inhibitory actions of the higher amounts of 2-pentanone and 2-butanone were found. Isoamyl alcohol had an inhibitory effect at low doses (25–100 µmol (22.18–88.71 g/m 3 )) and another alcohol, 2-phenylethanol, had a weaker effect on Agrobacterium growth at doses from 25–100 µmol (30.74–122.94 g/m 3 ).…”

“…A substantial killing effect on D. melanogaster was exerted by terpenes and ketones (2-octanone and 2-pentanone). Thus, the sensitivity of organisms belonging to different kingdoms to VOCs was different [ 18 ].…”

Volatile organic compounds released by wheat as a result of striped shieldbug feeding and insect behaviour

“…Effects of temperature, light and humidity can also effect plant emissions, and also the analytical devices, with issues of confounding factors limiting applications. Importantly, our knowledge of the biological origins and functions of plant VOCs is limited (Sidorova et al, 2022; Thöming, 2021). An in‐depth understanding of their formation would aid in the development of volatile blends for plant protection.…”

“…biological origins and functions of plant VOCs is limited (Sidorova et al, 2022;Thöming, 2021). An in-depth understanding of their formation would aid in the development of volatile blends for plant protection.…”