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Updated: May 1, 2026

Yeast Colony Embedding Method
Published on: March 22, 2011
Quorum sensing activity and control of yeast-mycelium dimorphism in Ophiostoma floccosum
Alexander Berrocal1, Claudia Oviedo, Kenneth W Nickerson
1Escuela de Ingeniería Forestal, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Apartado Postal 159-7050, Cartago, 30101, Costa Rica, aberrocal@itcr.ac.cr.
Abstract:
Quorum sensing (QS) activity in Ophiostoma fungi has not been described. We have examined the growth conditions on the control of dimorphism in Ophiostoma floccosum, an attractive biocontrol agent against blue-stain fungi, and its relationship with QS activity. In a defined culture medium with L-proline as the N source, a high inoculum size (10(7) c.f.u. ml(-1)) was the principal factor that promoted yeast-like growth. Inoculum size effect can be explained by the secretion of a QS molecule(s) (QSMs) responsible for inducing yeast morphology. QSM candidates were extracted from spent medium and their structure was determined by GC-MS. Three cyclic sesquiterpenes were found. The most abundant molecule, and therefore the principal candidate to be the QSM responsible for yeast growth of O. floccosum, was 1,1,4a-trimethyl-5,6-dimethylene-decalin (C15H24). Other two compounds were also detected.
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