Detection and Identification of Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds of the Green Mold Disease

Abstract

Button mushrooms are one of the most commonly cultivated mushroom species facing different risks e.g.: viral, bacterial and fungal diseases. One of the most common problems is caused by Trichoderma aggressivum, or ‘green mould' disease. The presence or absence of mushroom disease-related moulds can sufficiently be detected from the air by headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS SPME GC-MS) via their emitted microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs). In the present study, HS SPME GC-MS was used to explore the volatile secondary metabolites released by T. aggressivum f. europaeum on different nutrient-rich and -poor media. The MVOC pattern of green mould was determined, then media-dependent and independent biomarkers were also identified during metabolomic experiments. The presented results provide the basics of a green mould identification system which helps producers reducing yield loss, new directions for researchers in mapping the metabolomic pathways of T. aggressivum and new tools for policy makers in mushroom quality control.