Use of solid phase microextraction coupled to capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for screening Fusarium spp. based on their volatile sesquiterpenes

Abstract

Solid phase microextraction (SPME) coupled to capillary gas chromatography (CGC) and mass spectrometry (MS) was used to evaluate the use of fungal volatiles to discriminate Fusarium species from wheat cultivars in the Argentina pampa region. Monosporic fungal isolates were grown on rice in sealed containers for 1 week and volatile organic compounds (VOC) were sampled for 30 min from the head space by SPME and analysed by CGC and CGCMS. VOC profiles of Fusarium species F. graminearum, F. poae, F. equiseti, F. verticillioides and F. oxysporum were discriminated by comparison of their profiles in the elution zone corresponding to sesquiterpenes. Trichothecene-producer and non-trichothecene producer Fusarium species were separated by the presence of trichodiene in their VOC fingerprints. Within trichothecene-producers, F. graminearum, F. poae and F. equiseti differed on the structure of their volatile sesquiterpenes. This technique might be also helpful to detect F. graminearum, the major head blight disease-producing fungus in the region.