MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

A bibliometric analysis of fungal volatile organic compounds

Summary

Fungi release distinctive smells made up of volatile compounds that help them communicate with plants, bacteria, and other organisms. These fungal smell chemicals have grown from being studied mainly in wine fermentation to being explored for helping crops grow better, fighting plant diseases naturally, and creating food flavors without chemicals. This research shows that understanding how fungi use these smell chemicals could lead to more sustainable farming practices and natural alternatives to harmful pesticides.

Background

Fungal volatile organic compounds (fVOCs) serve as crucial mediators in ecological interactions and hold significant potential for applications in agriculture and biotechnology. Fungi establish inter-organism communication through volatile molecules, enabling them to regulate plant growth and interact with diverse soil-dwelling organisms.

Objective

This study integrates a comprehensive literature survey and bibliometric analysis to capture the complexity and interdisciplinary nature of fVOC research, drawing on PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases spanning 2000 to 2023. The aim was to identify major research trends and findings within the growing fVOC community and map connections between different disciplines and research fields.

Results

The analysis of 3,738 publications revealed seven interdisciplinary clusters in fVOC research. Early research (2000-2004) focused on yeast fermentation and antimicrobial activity, which expanded to sustainable agriculture, biofumigation, and endophytic fungi. Recent trends (2021-2023) show focus on plant-fungus communication, biotechnological production of aroma compounds, and human sensory perception. Three main thematic clusters emerged: plant-fungal interactions, antimicrobial properties of endophytic fungi, and below-ground microbial VOC interactions.

Conclusion

The fVOC research field has matured significantly over the last two decades. Promising future directions include improving crop resilience through fVOCs, advancing eco-friendly technologies such as biological pest management, and better understanding volatile communication driving fungal interactions across kingdoms. A comprehensive regulatory framework is needed to ensure safe deployment of fVOCs in industry and agriculture.
  • Published in:Fungal Biology and Biotechnology,
  • Study Type:Bibliometric Analysis,
  • Source: PMID: 40605089, DOI: 10.1186/s40694-025-00203-x
Scroll to Top