ABSTRACT
The study of biogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and their physiological effects has intensi›ed in recent decades. Although volatiles are a small portion of the total metabolites produced by organisms, their unique properties enable them to mediate important biological functions, especially in aerial and terrestrial environments. There already exists a large body of literature investigating volatiles, including their roles as food and ©avoring agents, as semiochemicals (“infochemicals”) for insects and microbes, and as indicators of microbial contamination. In agriculture, the potential uses of microbial VOCs include biostimulation of crops, control of contamination in food products, and control of pathogens in plants through volatile-mediated inhibition of pathogen growth and/or increased systemic resistance of plants. As we obtain new volatile pro›les, accurately assess the impact of environmental conditions on volatile production, and identify novel compounds, our
knowledge of the VOCs emitted by microorganisms will no doubt bring new perspectives to fundamental questions. Moreover, elucidating the biological activities and ecological roles of VOCs will become increasingly important as we seek to develop more sustainable agriculture practices. The aim of this chapter is to give a general overview of the ecological role of VOCs produced by fungi; to describe some of the complex volatile-mediated interactions between plants, fungi, and bacteria in the soil environment; and to draw attention to the complexity of the roles and functions of these versatile compounds.
