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Identification by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the volatile organic compounds emitted from the wood-rotting fungi Serpula lacrymans and Coniophora puteana, and from Pinus sylvestris timber

Ewen, Richard J.; Jones, Peter R.H.; Ratcliffe, Norman M.; Spencer-Phillips, Peter T.N.

Authors

Richard J. Ewen

Peter R.H. Jones

Norman Ratcliffe Norman.Ratcliffe@uwe.ac.uk
Professor in Materials & Sensors Science



Abstract

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by two wood-rotting basidiomycete fungi, Serpula lacrymans (dry rot fungus) and Coniophora puteana (cellar fungus), and the timber of Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine), were identified. Several volatile collection techniques were employed including dichloromethane solvent extraction, solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and thermal desorption of VOCs entrained on Tenax GR. In addition, a new method of solid sample injection (SSI) is described which utilises a low injector temperature and an all-glass deactivated injector liner designed to minimise both the formation of pyrolysis products and analyte degradation. All the volatile compounds collected were analysed using electron impact capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) on HP-5. HP-Innowax and β-cyclodextrin columns. SSI and Tenax thermal desorption were found to be the most effective extraction methods. A total of 19 VOCs were observed from S. lacrymans grown on glass slides and pine, 15 from C. puteana grown on glass slides and 12 from P. sylvestris timber. S. lacrymaux was found to emit, in low abundance, six unique VOCs, of which 2-methylbutanal was the greatest. The major volatile compound emitted by S. lacrymans was 1-octen-3-ol, which was also found in lower abundance from C. puteana. Six VOCs, including diethylene glycol and 4-methyl methylbenzoate, were found to be unique to C. puteana, all in medium abundance. From P. sylvestris, the major volatiles identified were S-α-pinene and 3-carene.

Citation

Ewen, R. J., Jones, P. R., Ratcliffe, N. M., & Spencer-Phillips, P. T. (2004). Identification by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the volatile organic compounds emitted from the wood-rotting fungi Serpula lacrymans and Coniophora puteana, and from Pinus sylvestris timber. Mycological Research, 108(7), 806-814. https://doi.org/10.1017/S095375620400022X

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jan 1, 2004
Journal Mycological Research
Print ISSN 0953-7562
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 108
Issue 7
Pages 806-814
DOI https://doi.org/10.1017/S095375620400022X
Keywords gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, volatile organic compounds, wood-rotting fungi, Serpula lacrymans, Coniophora puteana, Pinus sylvestris timber
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1062474
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S095375620400022X