Antimicrobial activity of octan-3-one released from spent mushroom substrate of shiitake (Lentinula edodes) and its inhibitory effects on plant diseases

From the paper

Abstract

Volatiles released from the spent mushroom substrate (SMS) of shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes) are known to be effective for suppressing the Alternaria sooty spot disease of cabbage that is caused by Alternaria brassicicola. We analyzed a volatile compound released from shiitake SMS by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and identified octan-3-one as a major volatile compound. Octan-3-one exerted an antimicrobial activity on a wide range of fungal and bacterial plant pathogens, and it inhibited Alternaria sooty spot of cabbage and gray mold of tomato. Octan-3-one was observed to be a fungistatic compound as after its removal, spores of A. brassicicola initiated germination. Octan-3-one is already known as an important flavor compound in mushrooms and is considered to have relatively low toxicity; our findings indicate that it may thus be useful for protecting crops from fungal and bacterial diseases in closed spaces such as greenhouses, crop storage rooms, and shipping containers.