Toxicity of Volatile Organic Compounds Produced by Pathogens Ewingella americana and Cedecea neteri Associated with Pleurotus pulmonarius

Author: mycolabadmin
9/5/2025
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Summary

Researchers discovered that two types of bacteria (Ewingella americana and Cedecea neteri) causing diseases in oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus pulmonarius) produce harmful volatile compounds. These airborne toxins, especially one called 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, can damage mushroom tissue and stop mushroom growth at very low concentrations. This is the first study showing that these bacterial volatiles are important factors in mushroom disease, which could help farmers develop better ways to detect and prevent these infections.

Background

Pleurotus pulmonarius is an important edible and medicinal fungus prone to bacterial diseases in high-temperature and high-humidity environments. While most research has focused on Pseudomonas tolaasii and its non-volatile toxin tolaasin, little is known about volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by other bacterial pathogens affecting P. pulmonarius. This study addresses the gap in understanding the pathogenic mechanisms of Ewingella americana and Cedecea neteri, two emerging pathogens of P. pulmonarius.

Objective

To isolate and identify bacterial pathogens from diseased P. pulmonarius fruiting bodies in Guangxi, China, and to characterize the volatile organic compounds they produce and evaluate their toxicity. The study aims to demonstrate the pathogenic potential of bacterial VOCs and establish their role as virulence factors in P. pulmonarius disease development.

Results

Two bacterial pathogens were identified as E. americana and C. neteri from P. pulmonarius fruiting bodies. HS-SPME-GC-MS identified 16 volatile organic compounds, seven of which exhibited toxicity including 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, 2-tridecanone, 2-undecanol, 2-nonanol, 2-undecanone, 2-nonanone, and 2-phenylethanol. 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol proved most potent, inducing sunken lesions at 0.5 mg/mL and nearly complete mycelial suppression at 5 μg/L.

Conclusion

This is the first study demonstrating the pathogenic potential of VOCs produced by E. americana and C. neteri against P. pulmonarius, establishing VOCs as important virulence factors. The findings expand understanding of mushroom-bacteria interactions and provide a foundation for developing detection systems and control strategies for bacterial diseases of P. pulmonarius.

Published in:Toxins (Basel),
Study Type:Experimental Laboratory Study,
Source: PMID: 41003513, DOI: 10.3390/toxins17090449