Chapter 6 - Fungal volatile compounds: a source of novel in plant protection agents

Abstract

Volatile compounds are different mixtures of gaseous, carbonic compounds produced by the fungi and are easily diffused through the atmosphere as well as the soil due to their small size. With a variety of technologies and methodological limitations, scientists have identified 250 fungal volatile compounds characterized by particular odors formed during both primary and secondary metabolism. Various fungal volatile compounds support a provocative diagnosis of a medical condition known as sick building syndrome and are helpful in summing up the successful Trichoderma biocontrol species. Volatile compounds also play an important role in the signaling of fungi in the natural environment. Various ecological interactions are mediated by volatile compounds between fungi, arthropods, bacteria, plants, and other fungi. Fungal volatile compounds have different functions that can be used in the development of biotechnological applications such as biocontrol, biofuel, and mycofumigation. Fungal endophytes have enhanced plant performance and plant protection against both biotic and abiotic stress by undergoing adaptation in the habitat. Fungal endophytes are involved in different secondary metabolites, which also include volatile compounds. In addition to plant protection against pests and pathogens, some fungal endophytes may remove toxicity in animals associated with fungal endophytes in grasses of the temperate region, mainly in corn and rice plants, which are tolerant of biotic and abiotic stress. In bioprospecting, volatility is the new boundary and the assessment of these gaseous compounds has the potential for the discovery of net products that interfere with human exploitation, resulting in the creation of a new hypothesis in fundamental biology.