A Comparison of Collection Methods for Microbial Volatiles

Recently, there has been an increase in the number of reports that highlight the role of microbes and their volatile metabolites in interactions with plants and insects, including interactions which may benefit agricultural production. Accurate and reproducible volatile collection is crucial to investigations of chemical-mediated communication between organisms. Accordingly, accurate detection of volatiles emitted from microbe-inoculated media is a research priority. Though numerous classes of volatile organic compounds are emitted from plants, insects, and microbes, emissions from microbes typically contain polar compounds of high volatility. Therefore, commonly used plant or insect volatile collection techniques may not provide an accurate representation of microbe-specific volatile profiles. Here, we present and compare the volatile data derived via three solventless collection techniques: direct headspace injection, solid-phase microextraction (SPME), and active sampling with a sorptive matrix blend specifically designed to prevent collection filter breakthrough of VOCs (solid-phase extraction, SPE). These methods were applied to a synthetic floral nectar media containing a nectar-inhabiting yeast, Metschnikowia reukaufii, and sunflower (Helianthus annus) pollen. The yeast contributed alcohols, ketones, and esters, and the pollen provided terpenoids. Direct headspace injections were not effective, and the resultant chromatography was poor despite the use of on-column cryofocusing. SPME and SPE detected a similar number of volatiles, but with varying relative abundances. SPE collected a greater abundance of microbial volatiles than SPME, a difference driven by high ethanol capture in SPE. Both SPE and SPME are appropriate for analysis of microbial volatiles, though the sorbent type and amount, and other collection parameters should be further evaluated for each studied system.

Knowledge Discovery and Geographical Databases

Geographic data are characterized by huge volumes, lack of standards, multiplicity of data sources, multi-scale requirements, and variability in time. These characteristics make geographic information complex and uncertain. At the same time, the important growth of the quantity of data manipulated and the necessity to make rapid decisions imposed the appearance and the great progress of new tools like data warehousing techniques. Data warehouse is usually defined as a subject-oriented, integrated, time-variant, and non-volatile collection of data in support of decision-making processes.

Volatile Profiles of Decaying Apple Fruit

The changes in volatile-aroma of Penicillium expansium and Botrytis cinerea fungi and apple fruit inoculated with these fungi were studied using GC-MS. A specially designed chamber with raised end glass tubes with access ports fitted with Teflon-lined septa was used to determine the volatile profile for fungi on agar. Inoculated fruit were placed in glass flow-through chambers similarly fitted with sampling ports. Volatile collection from fruits or fungi was accomplished using solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) device (Supelco, Inc.). In fungi-inoculated fruits, volatiles not produced by uninfected fruit included formic acid, 2-cyano acetamide; 1-hydroxy-2-propanone, and 1-1-diethoxy-2-propanone, which were initially detected 6 hr after inoculation. These new volatiles are suggested to be synthesized specifically by the action of fungi on fruits as they were not detected from fungi that were grown on agar or bruised fruits. In general, esters, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, acids, and hydrocarbons other than α-farnesene declined in fungi infected fruits.

A System and Methodology for Measuring Volatile Organic Compounds Produced by Hydroponic Lettuce in a Controlled Environment

A system and methodology were developed for the nondestructive qualitative and quantitative analysis of volatile emissions from hydroponically grown `Waldmann's Green' leaf lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Photosynthetic photon flux (PPF), photoperiod, and temperature were automatically controlled and monitored in a growth chamber modified for the collection of plant volatiles. The lipoxygenase pathway products (Z)-3-hexenal, (Z)-3-hexenol, and (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate were emitted by lettuce plants after the transition from the light period to the dark period. The volatile collection system developed in this study enabled measurements of volatiles emitted by intact plants, from planting to harvest, under controlled environmental conditions.

Quantitative Technique for Measuring Volatile Components of Baked Sweetpotatoes

We describe a relatively simple collection procedure for quantifying volatiles in baked sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.]. Volatiles formed during baking `Jewel' and `Centennial' sweetpotatoes at 204C were purged from a baking vessel with He or a HeO2 mixture, collected in cold methylene chloride, and reduced in volume using a Kuderna-Danish concentrator. Volatile components were quantified by capillary gas chromatography and characterized using gas chromatographic-mass spectrometer analysis. Quantitatively, the major components were identified as 2-furaldehyde; 2-furanmethanol; benzaldehyde; 5-methyl-2-furfural; phenylacetaldehyde; 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4 H -pyran-4-one; 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4 H- pyran-4-one; and 5-hydroxy-methyl-2-furancarboxaldehyde. Some quantitatively minor compounds were also identified. The volatile collection system is reproducible for quantitative comparisons among breeding lines.