초록
<P><I>Alternaria alternata</I> is one of the most studied fungi to date because of its impact on human life – from plant pathogenicity to allergenicity. However, its sesquiterpene emissions have not been systematically explored. <I>Alternaria</I> regularly co-occurs with <I>Fusarium</I> fungi, which are common plant pathogens, on withering plants. We analyzed the diversity and determined the absolute quantities of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the headspace above mycelial cultures of <I>A. alternata</I> and <I>Fusarium oxysporum</I> under different conditions (nutrient rich and poor, single cultures and co-cultivation) and at different mycelial ages. Using stir bar sorptive extraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, we observed <I>A. alternata</I> to strongly emit sesquiterpenes, particularly during the early growth stages, while emissions from <I>F. oxysporum</I> consistently remained comparatively low. The emission profile characterizing <I>A. alternata</I> comprised over 20 sesquiterpenes with few effects from nutrient quality and age on the overall emission profile. Co-cultivation with <I>F. oxysporum</I> resulted in reduced amounts of VOCs emitted from <I>A. alternata</I> although its profile remained similar. Both fungi showed distinct emission profiles, rendering them suitable biomarkers for growth-detection of their phylotype in ambient air. The study highlights the importance of thorough and quantitative evaluations of fungal emissions of volatile infochemicals such as sesquiterpenes.</P>