Sonia N. Humphris, Ron E. Wheatley, Alan Bruce
The Effects of Specific Volatile Organic Compounds
Produced by Trichoderma Spp. on the Growth of Wood Decay Basidiomycetes
Summary
Previous work by Srinivasan et al. (1992) and Bruce et al. (1996) has shown that inhibition of wood
decay fungi by volatile organic compounds produced by Trichoderma spp. is dependent on the type of
growth media and age of the Trichoderma colony. Wheatley et al. (1997) identified five volatile organic
compounds produced by Trichoderma spp. that may be inhibitory to wood decay fungi. The effects of
four of these compounds (Acetone, 2-methyl-1-butanol, heptanal and octanal) were tested over a range
of concentrations against four selected wood decay fungi. Fungi were incubated in malt extract broth
under appropriate conditions and growth was estimated by biomass production and respiration rates.
Growth of all four fungi was affected by at least one of the compounds, usually by inhibition but occasionally
stimulation. All but two of the fungus/chemical combinations showed significant effects on biomass
development (P < 0.05) and fifteen of the sixteen combinations produced a significant concentration
effect on respiration rates (P < 0.05). The aldehydes, heptanal and octanal, were very effective
against all four wood decay fungi. All four fungi were inhibited by more than 80% at 25 ?g ml?1 by
heptanal and three of the four fungi were totally inhibited at 250 ?g ml?1. Acetone did not inhibit the
four wood decay fungi and even stimulated fungal growth at some concentrations. 2-methyl-1-butanol
was only effective at the highest concentration of 2500 ?g ml?1. The implications of these results for the
biological control of wood decay fungi and future studies are discussed.
Holzforschung, Walter de Gruyter
Print ISSN: 0018-3830
Volume: 55, 04/2001
Pages: 233 - 237
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