Developmental stage-dependent and wound-triggered formation dynamics of volatiles in Pleurotus cornucopiae.

Developmental stage and wounding trigger distinct volatile organic compound emission patterns in Pleurotus cornucopiae, with sesquiterpenes accumulating during late stages and C8 VOCs during early stages.

• Why it matters: Understanding how fungi regulate VOC emissions during development and in response to damage is crucial for elucidating their ecological interactions, such as spore dispersal and defense mechanisms, which are not yet well understood.
• What they did: The study used nondestructive headspace sampling, GC-MS, PTR-ToF-MS, controlled wounding, feeding experiments, and enzyme assays to analyze VOC emission dynamics across growth stages and after mechanical injury in P. cornucopiae.
• The result: Findings show that VOC production is growth- and damage-dependent, with immediate bursts of C8 VOCs upon wounding and developmental regulation of sesquiterpenes, enabling future research into their ecological and physiological functions.