Quorum sensing activity and control of yeast-mycelium dimorphism in Ophiostoma floccosum

Alexander Berrocal, Claudia Oviedo, Kenneth W. Nickerson, José Navarrete

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

Quorum sensing (QS) activity in Ophiostoma fungi has not been described. We have examined the growth conditions on the control of dimorphism in Ophiostoma floccosum, an attractive biocontrol agent against blue-stain fungi, and its relationship with QS activity. In a defined culture medium with l-proline as the N source, a high inoculum size (107 c.f.u. ml-1) was the principal factor that promoted yeast-like growth. Inoculum size effect can be explained by the secretion of a QS molecule(s) (QSMs) responsible for inducing yeast morphology. QSM candidates were extracted from spent medium and their structure was determined by GC-MS. Three cyclic sesquiterpenes were found. The most abundant molecule, and therefore the principal candidate to be the QSM responsible for yeast growth of O. floccosum, was 1,1,4a-trimethyl-5,6-dimethylene-decalin (C15H24). Other two compounds were also detected.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1503-1513
Number of pages11
JournalBiotechnology Letters
Volume36
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2014

Keywords

  • Cyclic sesquiterpenes
  • Fungal dimorphism
  • Inoculum size
  • Ophiostoma floccosum
  • Quorum sensing molecules
  • Trimethyl-dimethylene-decalin

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Bioengineering
  • Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology

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