Annulohypoxylon sp. FPYF3050 produces volatile organic compounds against the pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

Natural volatiles released by the fungus. Annulohypoxylon sp. FPYF3050. were evaluated against the pine wood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. Our results showed that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) caused 64.1 and 58.4% mortality of second-stage juveniles (J2) and mixed-stages (eggs, J2, third- and fourth-stage juveniles, and adults) of populations of PWN, but no inhibitive effects were detected on nematode eggs in the experiment. Analysis of the gases within the Petri plate by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) showed a yield of an unique volatile with dominant 1,8-cineole in 77.4% relative area (RA) after 72 h treatment of nematodes with Annulohypoxylon sp. FPYF3050 and Botrytis cinerea. The commercial 1.8-cineole at concentrations of 2, 5, 10 and 15 mu l ml(-1) was applied to examine nematicidal activity. The results showed that 1.8-cineole had a 40-100% inhibition on the nematode eggs during 48 h treatment, more than 82.9% mortality of J2 after 24 h, 48 h and 96 h, and 18.7-91.9% mortality of the mixed-stage population, depending on the period after exposure. This result indicates that 1,8-cineole in the volatile gas emissions of Annulohypoxylon sp. FPYF3050 may play a crucial inhibitory effect on the pine wood nematode The nematicidal volatile gas from fungi may provide a useful biocontrol agent for controlling B. xylophilus.