Synthetic VOCs from T. hamatumβespecially 1-octen-3-oneβwere strongly antifungal, arresting growth of crop pathogens like Botrytis cinerea and Gaeumannomyces tritici. Findings support the use of VOCs as tools for pathogen management in sustainable agriculture.
#ChemicalEcology #Semiochemicals
09.07.2025 11:31 β π 1 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0
In confrontation assays, T. hamatum GD12 suppressed the fungal pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Volatile collections from the assays, followed by GC and GC-MS analysis, revealed that several T. hamatum VOCs were induced during confrontation, supporting a VOC-mediated mechanism
09.07.2025 11:31 β π 1 π 0 π¬ 1 π 0
Inducible volatile chemical signalling drives antifungal activity of Trichoderma hamatum GD12 during confrontation with the pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum
BACKGROUND: The use of beneficial soil fungi or their natural products offers a more sustainable alternative to synthetic fungicides for pathogen management in crops. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by such fungi act as semiochemicals that inhibit pathogens, with VOC production influenced by physical interactions between competing fungi. This study explores the interaction between the beneficial soil fungus Trichoderma hamatum GD12 strain (GD12), previously shown to antagonize crop pathogens such as Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, to test the hypothesis that its antagonistic effect is mediated by volatile chemical signalling. A GD12 mutant deficient in the chitinolytic enzyme N-acetyl-Ξ²-glucosaminidase ΞThnag::hph, which shows reduced biocontrol activity, was also examined. RESULTS: In dual-culture confrontation assays, co-inoculation of GD12 and S. sclerotiorum led to fungistatic interactions after 7 days, whereas ΞThnag::hph showed no antagonism, indicating a loss of antagonistic function. VOCs collected from individual and co-cultures were analysed by gas chromatography - flame ionization detector (GC-FID) analysis and coupled GC-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), revealing significant differences in VOC production between treatments, with VOC production notably upregulated in the GD12 + S. sclerotiorum co-culture. Peak production of 6-pentyl-2H-pyran-2-one occurred 17 days post-inoculation. This upregulation was absent in the ΞThnag::hph co-culture, suggesting VOCs may drive antagonism. Synthetic VOC assays revealed several compounds inhibitory to S. sclerotiorum, including 1-octen-3-one, which also arrested the growth of key fungal pathogens (Botrytis cinerea, Pyrenopeziza brassicae, and Gaeumannomyces tritici). Structural insights into 1-octen-3-one's antifungal activity against S. sclerotiorum are also presented. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the hypothesis that the antagonistic properties of T. hamatum GD12 against crop fungal pathogens can, in part, be attributed to VOC production. Further research is needed to assess the potential of these semiochemicals as tools for pathogen management in agriculture. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, https://ror.org/00cwqg982, BB/X010953/1, BBS/E/RH/230003A, BBS/OS/CP/000001, 1622285
π¨New pre-print: we show that the beneficial soil fungus Trichoderma hamatum GD12 uses volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to suppress crop pathogens. Link to the study here:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
09.07.2025 11:31 β π 1 π 1 π¬ 1 π 0
π’New Paper! Identifying subtle differences in the molecular structure of a sex pheromone could ultimately help protect vital stored legume crops from the destructive dried bean beetle. π«πͺ² @royentsoc.bsky.social
Full story π
www.rothamsted.ac.uk/news/bean-be...
09.04.2025 10:27 β π 3 π 1 π¬ 1 π 0
Great to be involved with this study- we show that the eight-toothed spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) can identify and colonize both Sitka and Norway spruce trees, providing insights for the management of the forest pest #ChemicalEcology #PestManagement
13.02.2025 08:35 β π 2 π 0 π¬ 0 π 0
It's so nice being back at #MMEG2024 in Southampton finally presenting the results of our study in insect-bacteria interactions @jamesemcdonald.bsky.social @gathomas12.bsky.social
16.12.2024 22:37 β π 10 π 7 π¬ 0 π 0
Using dynamic headspace collections for bacterial volatile sampling
This protocol describes a step-by-step guide for sampling Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from the headspace of bacterial cultures, using dynamic headspace collections.
A new protocol from the Chemical Ecology group @rothamsted.bsky.social has now been published on @protocolsio.bsky.social: 'Using dynamic headspace collections for bacterial volatile sampling'.
Link: www.protocols.io/view/using-d...
#ChemicalEcology #Microbiology #Volatiles #Semiochemicals
04.12.2024 18:59 β π 4 π 3 π¬ 0 π 0
Hi #ChemicalEcologists,
Just created a starter package for networking people in our field π Please let me know if people need to be added!
go.bsky.app/KzwBnhN
01.12.2024 15:13 β π 19 π 12 π¬ 12 π 0
I'm excited to announce a PhD studentship, based at UofYork, exploring how land management in African savanna affects climate, past and present. I'm joined by the fabulous
Prof Colin Beale & @sabineclarke.bsky.social
to join historic delivery of ecosystem functions with future savanna management.
28.11.2024 21:30 β π 20 π 9 π¬ 1 π 2
"Unlock Nature's Potential" Join @drjohnphreade.bsky.social, @ipmtom.bsky.social, @randybenjamin.bsky.social and me for a funded #PhD at HAU!
Optimise plant essential oil biopesticides for integrated pest management.
More info: warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fa...
#Sustainability #AgTech #EcoFriendly
30.10.2023 17:47 β π 4 π 5 π¬ 0 π 0
Fully-funded PhD position with Gareth Thomas @rothamsted.bsky.social and myself on entomopathogenic fungi and pest-host-parasitoid interactions π½
DEADLINE 11 December
Apply here π
www.swbio.ac.uk/programme/ho...
19.11.2024 11:04 β π 8 π 10 π¬ 0 π 0
Soil microbiologist at Teagasc. Interested in microbial ecology, nutrient cycling, climate change, microbial adaptation to the environment, soil microbiome and nature
Postdoc in the department of Biogeography, University of Trier @unitrier.bsky.social. From the island of Ischia.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9115-1941
Studying behavioral evolution, from mosquitoes to mole-rats | Leon Levy Scholar at Columbia Zuckerman Institute working w/ Ishmail Abdus-Saboor | PhD Princeton (w/ Lindy McBride), MA Columbia (w/ Dustin Rubenstein) | ιΊ»εΈ/ζ±ε€§ alum π―π΅ | yukihaba.github.io
evolutionary ecologist trying to understand flowers and my teenager | occasional fireweed spotter | π¨π¦ / πΈπͺ | enjoying sabbatical | I should be writing
Microbiologist for the sake of diverse and healthy communities in our soil, guts, classrooms, and world. π±π»β¨π¬π¦ π§«
Tenure-track faculty at Lower Columbia College | Tiny Earth Partner Instructor
Post doc @MichaelSarsCentre π³π΄ interested in marine chemical ecology from metabolite chemistry and receptor biophysics to behavioural responses and ecological significance. Echinoderm enthusiast βοΈ
π¨π¦/π§πͺ/π΄π². She/her. π³οΈβπ
π‘ Digital research skills training β’ Open research β’ Research policy
πΌ Centre for eResearch, University of Auckland.
π» tomsaunders.me
We investigate the chemical communication between different organisms - plants, insects and microbes - in Jena, Germany.
PhD Candidate in Kessler's lab at @cornelluniversity.bsky.social
MSc, Ecologist| Insect-plant interactions | English-EspaΓ±ol |
He/him/Γ©l
Website: https://mariosandovalmx.github.io/ecology/
Plant scientist π±π¦ 𧫠π²π½ | Postdoc at the University of Zurich in the Cyril Zipfel and Pedro Beltrao groups, studying protein phosphorylation during plantβmicrobe interactions #EMBOfellow | @thesainsburylab.bsky.social alumni
Evolutionary Biologist interested in Animal Behavior and Cognition, especially the interlink between socio-ecological factors, motivation and learning.
www.sofiaforss.com
Associate Professor. Keen bean. Writer. Pedagogy, psychology, methods, reflexivity, open science, iced lattes. She/her π»
π³Focused on the future of forest and tree health, funded by Defra.
πLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/forestprotection/
π¦ββ¬π: https://x.com/ForestProtectUK
πCFP Website: https://www.forestprotection.uk/
Massive fan of trees, fairweather fan of data. UKRIFLF, Assoc Prof, University of Cambridge. #womeninstem she/her
linesresearchgroup.com
Microbiologist π¦ Chief editor at Nature Microbiologyπ
Views my own
Love photography, wildlife, Entomology (especially Pentatomoidea, Coreoidea and Coccinellidae!) ...nature in general! 333.19 PPM
also @vc40ladybirds.bsky.social
Metabolic engineer & plant biotechnologist. Interested in omega-3s and early 90s EDM.
Algae enthusiast, Associate Professor @UniofExeter, joint appointment @thembauk #ERC-CoG, former #NERC IRF
Algal ecophysiology | signalling | microbiome | molecular microbiology | diatoms!
LaBella Lab studies codon usage (aka "silent" genetic changes) and evolution from humans to fungi | Bioinformatics & Genomics | UNC Charlotte
Run by Abbe LaBella
Opinions are my own and do not reflect any affiliated organization.
