Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 28, 2026

Infection of In Vivo and In Vitro Pines with the Pinewood Nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and Isolation of Induced Volatiles
Published on: September 27, 2024
Volatile sesquiterpene hydrocarbons characteristic for Penicillium roqueforti strains producing PR toxin
1Institute of Food Technology, Agricultural University of Poznań, Wojska Polskiego 31, 60-624 Poznań, Poland. henrykj@owl.au.poznan.pl
Abstract:
Volatile metabolites that might accompany production of PR toxin by Penicillium roqueforti were investigated. Volatiles and PR toxin were evaluated for 16 strains of P. roqueforti. Solid phase microextraction was used for isolation of volatiles. Thirteen strains produced PR toxin, and all of them produced a specific set of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons including (+)-aristolochene-an intermediate in PR toxin biosynthesis, beta-bisabolene, alpha-chamigrene, diepi-alpha-cedrene, beta-elemene isomer, beta-elemene, beta-gurjunene, beta-himachalene, alpha-panasinsene, beta-patchoulene, beta-patchoulene isomer, alpha-selinene, and valencene. Aristolochene and the remainder of the sesquiterpene hydrocarbon profile were unique for P. roqueforti producing PR toxin. They were absent in nontoxigenic P. roqueforti and in 40 strains of other Penicillium species. Volatile compounds, sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, and aristolochene paralleled PR toxin synthesis. Incubation temperature (20, 24, or 27 degrees C) and water content in the medium (20, 30, or 40%) influenced the amount of produced sesquiterpenes, but not their profile, suggesting it is species specific. The sesquiterpene hydrocarbon pattern and especially aristolochene can be used as volatile markers for detecting the process of undergoing biosynthesis of PR toxin by P. roqueforti.
Related Concept Videos
Production of Antibiotics
Diphtheria
Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing
Bacterial Toxins
Bacterial Phylum Actinobacteria
Bacterial Phylum Planctomycetes

