MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Antifungal Volatile Organic Compounds from Talaromyces purpureogenus CEF642N: Insights from One Strain Many Compounds (OSMAC) Strategy for Controlling Verticillium dahliae in Cotton

Summary

Scientists discovered that a beneficial fungus called Talaromyces purpureogenus produces natural antifungal compounds that effectively control cotton wilt disease caused by the harmful fungus Verticillium dahliae. The study identified two main compounds, 3-octanol and 2-octenal, that showed strong antifungal activity without synthetic chemicals. This research offers a promising green alternative for protecting cotton crops from one of agriculture’s major diseases while being environmentally friendly.

Background

Verticillium wilt is a devastating soil-borne disease significantly impacting cotton production, causing 10-35% yield reduction. Fungal volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have emerged as promising alternatives to chemical pesticides for biocontrol of plant pathogens. The One Strain Many Compounds (OSMAC) strategy offers a practical approach to exploring microbial secondary metabolite diversity.

Objective

To evaluate the inhibitory effects of total VOCs produced by Talaromyces purpureogenus CEF642N against Verticillium dahliae using the OSMAC strategy across different culture media. To identify key antifungal VOCs and analyze the genes involved in their biosynthetic pathways.

Results

CEF642N produced two primary antifungal VOCs: 3-octanol and 2-octenal (E)-, with inhibition rates of 73.29% and 100% respectively at 600 μL/L concentration. GYESA and YPDA media produced significantly higher levels of antifungal VOCs compared to CA medium (75.04% and 78.88% inhibition rates respectively). Transcriptome analysis revealed differential expression of genes involved in fatty acid metabolism and eight-carbon volatile biosynthesis pathways.

Conclusion

3-Octanol and 2-octenal (E)- demonstrate significant antifungal activity against V. dahliae, providing a foundation for developing biofumigants for cotton Verticillium wilt control. The OSMAC strategy successfully identified media-dependent VOC production and associated biosynthetic genes. These findings provide theoretical basis for future gene screening and optimization of VOC production for agricultural applications.
  • Published in:Journal of Fungi,
  • Study Type:Experimental Laboratory Study,
  • Source: PMID: 40422667; DOI: 10.3390/jof11050332
Scroll to Top