Volatile Organic Compounds from Filamentous Fungi: a Chemotaxonomic Tool of the Botryosphaeriaceae Family

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from ten endophytic fungal species belonging to the Botryosphaeriaceae family were extracted by headspace-solid phase micro-extraction (HS-SPME) and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Thirty-four VOCs were identified. Most of the compounds are sesquiterpenes (14 non-oxygenated and 10 oxygenated), and two linear ketones and eight alcohols were also identified. Multivariate data analysis (PCA and HCA) allowed the differentiation of all investigated species, and proved to be efficient for the differentiation of Neofusicocum parvum and N. ribis, which are considered very similar species. α-Bisabolol, α-selinene, α-cedrene epoxide and guaiol acetate were suggested as biomarkers.