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

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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.

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Acknowledgments

The principal author would like to thank the personal of the Laboratory of Biodegradation in the Department of Wood Engineering at the University of Bio–Bio (Chile) for all support. To the Graduate School and Department of Wood Engineering at the University of Bio–Bio, the OEA Scholarship Program and the Scholarship Program of the Technology Institute of Costa Rica for providing the funds to carry out this research. We also thank Ph.D. Juanita Freer and Susana Casas from the Laboratory of Renewable Resources at the University of Concepcion for providing the facilities for GC–MS analyses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Escuela de Ingeniería Forestal, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Apartado Postal 159-7050, Cartago, 30101, Costa Rica

    Alexander Berrocal

  2. Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Bío Bío, Avenida Collao 1202, Casilla 5-C, 4051381, Concepción, Chile

    Claudia Oviedo

  3. School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0666, USA

    Kenneth W. Nickerson

  4. Departamento de Ingeniería en Maderas, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad del Bío Bío, Avenida Collao 1202, Casilla 5-C, 4051381, Concepción, Chile

    José Navarrete

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  1. Alexander Berrocal
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  2. Claudia Oviedo
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  3. Kenneth W. Nickerson
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  4. José Navarrete
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Correspondence to Alexander Berrocal.

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Berrocal, A., Oviedo, C., Nickerson, K.W. et al. Quorum sensing activity and control of yeast-mycelium dimorphism in Ophiostoma floccosum . Biotechnol Lett 36, 1503–1513 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-014-1514-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-014-1514-5

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