Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses of volatile organic compounds from potato tubers inoculated with Phytophthora infestans or Fusarium coeruleum

De Lacy Costello, B. P.J.; Jones, P. R.H.; Ratcliffe, N. M.; Spencer-Phillips, P. T.N.; de Lacy Costello, Ben; Jones, Peter R.H.; Evans, P.; Ratcliffe, Norman M.; Ewen, R. J.; Spencer-Phillips, Peter T.N.; Gunson, H. E.

Abstract

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) collected from potato tubers inoculated with Phytophthora infestans (late blight), Fusarium coeruleum (dry rot) or sterilized distilled water (as a control) were analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID). A total of 52 volatiles were identified by GC-MS in the headspaces above P. infestans- and F. coeruleum-inoculated tubers after incubation for 42 days in the dark at 10°C. Of these VOCs, the six most abundant were common to both pathogens. These were benzothiazole (highest abundance), 2-ethyl-1-hexanol (second highest abundance), and at approximately equal third abundance, hexanal, 2-methylpropanoic acid-2,2-dimethyl-1-(2-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-propyl ester, 2-methylpropanoic acid-3-hydroxy-2,4,4-trimethyl-pentyl ester and phenol. In addition, styrene also occurred at approximately equal third abundance in the headspace of F. coeruleum-inoculated tubers, but at lower abundance in the headspace of P. infestans-inoculated tubers. Some VOCs were specific to each pathogen. Butanal, 3-methylbutanal, undecane and verbenone were found at low levels only in the headspace of tubers inoculated with P. infestans, while 2-pentylfuran and copaene were found only in the headspace of tubers inoculated with F. coeruleum. Additionally GC-FID analysis identified ethanol and 2-propanol in the liquid exudate from both P. infestans- and F. coeruleum-inoculated tubers after incubation for 35 days, and in the headspace after incubation for 42 days. These data provide key information for developing a sensor-based early warning system for the detection of postharvest diseases in stored potato tubers.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2001
• Journal: Plant Pathology
• Print ISSN: 0032-0862
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 50
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 489-496
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3059.2001.00594.x
• Keywords: fusarium dry rot, gas chromatography–flame ionization detection, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, late blight, solanum tuberosum
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1086120
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3059.2001.00594.x