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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, May 2004, p. 2823-2829, Vol. 70, No. 5
0099-2240/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.70.5.2823-2829.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Germination of Penicillium paneum Conidia Is Regulated by 1-Octen-3-ol, a Volatile Self-Inhibitor

Gilma S. Chitarra,1 Tjakko Abee,1 Frank M. Rombouts,1 Maarten A. Posthumus,2 and Jan Dijksterhuis3*

Laboratory of Food Microbiology, Wageningen University, 6703 HD Wageningen,1 Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Wageningen University, 6700 EG Wageningen,2 Department of Applied Research, Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, 3508 AD Utrecht, The Netherlands3

Received 1 October 2003/ Accepted 27 January 2004

Penicillium paneum is an important contaminant of cereal grains which is able to grow at low temperature, low pH, high levels of carbon dioxide, and under acid conditions. P. paneum produces mycotoxins, which may be harmful to animals and humans. We found that conidia in dense suspensions showed poor germination, suggesting the presence of a self-inhibitor. A volatile compound(s) produced by these high-density conditions also inhibited mycelial growth of different species of fungi belonging to a variety of genera, suggesting a broad action range. The heat-stable compound was isolated by successive centrifugation of the supernatant obtained from spore suspensions with a density of 109 conidia ml–1. By using static headspace analyses, two major peaks were distinguished, with the highest production of these metabolites after 22 h of incubation at 25°C and shaking at 140 rpm. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectra analysis revealed the compounds to be 3-octanone and 1-octen-3-ol. Notably, only the latter compound appeared to block the germination process at different developmental stages of the conidia (swelling and germ tube formation). In this study, 1-octen-3-ol influenced different developmental processes during the P. paneum life cycle, including induction of microcycle conidiation and inhibition of spore germination. Therefore, the compound can be considered a fungal hormone during fungal development.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, P.O. Box 85167, 3508 AD Utrecht, The Netherlands. Phone: 31 (0) 30 2122654. Fax: 31 (0) 30 2512097. E-mail: dijksterhuis{at}cbs.knaw.nl.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, May 2004, p. 2823-2829, Vol. 70, No. 5
0099-2240/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.70.5.2823-2829.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





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