Study of the Vapor Phase Over Fusarium Fungi Cultured on Various Substrates

The compositions of volatile organic compounds ( VOC s) emitted by Fusarium fungi ( F. langsethiae , F. sibiricum , F. poae , and F. sporotrichioides ) grown on two nutritive substrates: potato sucrose agar ( PSA ) and autoclaved wheat kernels ( WK ) were investigated. The culturing of fungi and study of their VOC emissions were performed in chromatographic vials at room temperature (23 – 24 °C) and the VOC s were sampled by a solid‐phase microextraction on a 85 μm carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane fiber. GC / MS was performed using a 60‐m HP ‐5 capillary column. Components of the VOC mixture were identified by electron impact mass spectra and chromatographic retention indices ( RI s). The most abundant components of the VOC mixture emitted by Fusarium fungi are EtOH, AcOH, i BuOH, 3‐methylbutan‐1‐ol, 2‐methylbutan‐1‐ol, ethyl 3‐methylbutanoate, terpenes with M 136, sesquiterpenes with M 204 (a total of about 25), and trichodiene. It was found that the strains grown on PSA emit a wider spectrum and larger amount of VOC s compared with those grown on wheat kernels. F. langsethiae strain is the most active VOC producer on both substrates. The use of SPME and GC / MS also offers the potential for differentiation of fungal species and strains.