Effect of volatile substances of Streptomyces platensis F-1 on control of plant fungal diseases

Headspace volatile substances (VS) produced by Streptomyces platensis F-1 were preliminarily identified using GC–MS. The effects of VS released by S. platensis F-1 on the control of leaf blight/seedling blight of rice caused by Rhizoctonia solani, leaf blight of oilseed rape caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and fruit rot of strawberry caused by Botrytis cinerea, as well as on the growth of these three pathogenic fungi, were investigated. Results showed that sixteen volatile compounds were tentatively identified in 1-week-old cultures of S. platensis F-1 grown on autoclaved wheat seeds. They could be chemically grouped into alcohols, esters, acids, alkanes, ketones and alkenes. The most abundant composition in volatiles of S. platensis F-1 is geosmin, an earthy-muddy–smelling compound. Two antifungal compounds, phenylethyl alcohol and (+)-epi-bicyclesesquiphellandrene, were detected in the volatile profile of S. platensis F-1. Consistent fumigation of healthy tissues of rice, oilseed rape and strawberry to VS of S. platensis effectively reduced the incidence and/or the severity of leaf blight/seedling blight of rice (R. solani), leaf blight of oilseed rape (S. sclerotiorum) and fruit rot of strawberry (B. cinerea). A significant (P < 0.05) suppression of the mycelial growth of R. solani, S. sclerotiorum and B. cinerea by the VS of S. platensis was observed. The potential of using VS of S. platensis F-1 as a biofumigant to control plant fungal diseases is discussed.