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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.

Authors

B. P.J. De Lacy Costello

P. R.H. Jones

N. M. Ratcliffe

P. T.N. Spencer-Phillips

Peter R.H. Jones

P. Evans

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

R. J. Ewen

H. E. Gunson



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.

Citation

Spencer-Phillips, P. T., Ratcliffe, N. M., Jones, P. R., De Lacy Costello, B. P., de Lacy Costello, B., Evans, P., …Spencer-Phillips, P. T. (2001). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses of volatile organic compounds from potato tubers inoculated with Phytophthora infestans or Fusarium coeruleum. Plant Pathology, 50(4), 489-496. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3059.2001.00594.x

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