Volatile Organic Compound Profile Fingerprints Using DART-MS Shows Species-Specific Patterns in Fusarium Mycotoxin Producing Fungi.

Mark Busman,Robert H Proctor,Chris M Maragos,Ethan Roberts

doi:10.3390/jof8010003

Abstract

Fungal volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are low-molecular weight fungal metabolites that have high vapor pressure at ambient temperatures and can function as airborne signals. Here, we report a VOC study of several different species of Fusarium. Direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART–MS) was applied for non-invasive VOC fingerprinting of Fusarium isolates growing under standardized conditions. A large number of ions were detected from the headspaces of the Fusarium species sampled here. Ions were detected with distinctively high concentrations in some species. While there were few VOCs produced by only one species, the relative concentrations of VOCs differed between species. The methodology has potential for convenient detection and identification of Fusarium contamination in agricultural commodities.

Highlights

Fungal species belonging to the genus Fusarium live on a wide range of substrates
This was true for the Fusarium species and the A. flavus isolate used for comparison
The spectra illustrate the effective interface of Direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART–Mass spectrometry (MS)) for the headspace sampling and provide visual confirmation of the differences between the volatile species accessible to the DART–MS sampling experiment

Summary

Introduction

Fungal species belonging to the genus Fusarium live on a wide range of substrates. They are widely known to infest plants [1] and are the causal organisms behind important crop disease such as Fusarium head blight in wheat [2] and Fusarium ear rot in maize [3]. Fusarium species are responsible for the mycotoxin contamination of crops [4,5]. Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of the infesting fungi produced by a variety of metabolic pathways including those based upon terpenoid and polyketide backbones. Methods for rapid and convenient identification of mycotoxin producing fungi are helpful for grain producers in the management of growing crops while minimizing mycotoxin contamination [8]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion