Development of an Application Method for Volatile Compounds Derived from Mushroom Fungi Beds as Plant...

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Plant Biology
• Mycology

Background:

• Fungal volatile compounds (VCs) are known to promote plant growth.
• Current application methods for fungal VCs are limited.
• Edible mushroom fungi beds (FBs) offer a potential source of VCs but require validation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel non-contact method for applying VCs from mushroom FBs to rice seedlings.
• To assess the biostimulatory effects of VCs from shiitake and enokitake FBs on rice growth.
• To identify key bioactive VCs responsible for plant growth promotion.

Main Methods:

• A novel non-contact exposure system was developed to apply VCs from FBs to rice seedlings.
• Rice seedlings were exposed to VCs from shiitake and enokitake FBs at varying quantities.
• Chemical analysis identified VCs, and bioassays with synthetic VCs confirmed their bioactivity.

Main Results:

• VCs from shiitake FBs increased rice biomass by 67.4%, and from enokitake FBs by 39.5%.
• Biomass increase was dose-dependent on shiitake FB quantity (15g, 30g, 60g).
• VC effects were significant even when FBs were covered with gas-permeable films.

Conclusions:

• Mushroom FBs are a viable, sustainable source of bioactive VCs for plant growth promotion.
• The developed non-contact method is effective for applying fungal VCs.
• Waste mushroom FBs can be repurposed as cost-effective agricultural biostimulants.