ABSTRACT
Studies on volatile organic compounds (VOC) produced by saprobic conidial fungi of the Amazonian region (SCFA) are still non-existent. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the production of VOC’s from SCFA and their potential for controlling phytopathogens in vitro. The SCFA Beltrania rhombica, Brachysporiella sp., Dictyochaeta sp. and Gonytrichum sp. were used and their production of VOC’s was evaluated through germination and viability of phytopathogen spores and their mycelial growth, following the methodologies of Botelho 2010 and Maia 2011, with modifications. There was a reduction in spore germination for Colletotrichum musae (63.56%) after exposure to B. rhombica, Brachysporiella sp. (86.66%), Dictyochaeta sp. (79.68%) and Gonytrichum sp. (85.71%). When the phytopathogens C. truncatum, C. musae and Fusarium sp. were exposed to VOC from Brachysporiella sp., Dictyochaeta sp. and Gonytrichum sp., their spores were unviable after 3 and 7 days of exposure. The VOC’s from SCFA reduced the mycelial growth rate index and inhibited the mycelial growth of Sclerotinia sp. and S. sclerotiorum, besides reducing sclerotia production after exposure to VOC’s from B. rhombica, B. gayanaa and D. fertilis. We concluded that the studied SCFA showed VOC production, with potential for the biological control of plant diseases.
Keywords
Decomposer fungi; biological control; plant diseases