cytoskeleton and mytocondrial morphology of this important forest pathogen, and
inhibit dramatically their growth.
Herbicide the allelopathic effects of mushrooms, and their potential implications in control of weeds of agricultural importance, have been analyzed by different authors such as Araya (2007) and Chaumont (1985). Araya (2007) evaluated
the potential allelopathic effect of dried sporomes of 83 mushrooms by using as
model plants lettuces (Lactuca sativa L.). This author found that some EEMs
including M. esculenta, Cortinarius violaceus, L. decastes, and Ramaria formosa
showed a very strong inhibitory plant growth effect, due to the production of
allelochemical bioactive compounds. However, one of the most fascinating
examples of allelopathy induced by the mycelium of EEMs is produced by truffles.
In this case, the development of some herbaceous plants and most bushes around
the trees colonized by these mushrooms (for example Tuber melanosporum Vitt) is
inhibited by a number of volatile organic compounds secreted by the ectomycorrhizal mycelium (Splivallo et al. 2007) and the soil remains almost naked. This
phenomenon forms characteristic ‘‘burnt areas’’ or ‘‘brûlé’’ in French (Streiblova
et al. 2012). Some bioactive phytotoxic compounds like dimethyl sulfide,
2-butanone, 2-butanol, 2-methyl propanol, 2-methyl butanol, 3-methyl butanol,
2-methyl propanal, 2-methyl butanal, and 3-methyl butanal have already been
identified (Lanza et al. 2004; Pacioni 1991). Also, it has been shown that some
hormones including ethylene and indol acetic acid act as potent herbicides
(Splivallo et al. 2009). Additionally, different coumarins, including scopoletin,
angelicin, and bergaptene, have been found in T. melanosporum Vitt, T. aestivum
Vitt, and T. borchii Vitt (Tirillini and Stoppini 1996). This is an interesting fact
because it has been demonstrated that some coumarins have an evident allelopathic effect on some plants (Guo et al. 2013a, b; Abenavoli et al. 2003). These
studies are potentially important in the search of bioactive compounds of mycological-origin biopesticides targeted against weeds.
It is important to highlight that in general, the process of production of secondary metabolites by EEMs is an extremely important coevolutionary process
which regulate their ecological interactions with faunal, plant, and microbial
components in natural ecosystems, and this is the main reason of their great
complexity (Mello et al. 2013; Müller et al. 2013; Splivallo et al. 2011; Kempken
and Rohlfs, 2010; Rohlfs and Churchill, 2011). Despite this, the findings of
insecticidal, nematicidal, antifungal, and allelopathic properties from EEMs
undoubtedly open the possibility to find novel bioactive natural compounds useful
in the control of pests (or biogenic pesticides), pathogens and weeds in agriculture.
6.4 Biotechnology and Sustainability
The sustainable development approach was considered important since the 1970s,
but it was not formalized until 1987 when the United Nations World Commission
on Environment and Development proposed a definition in the report entitled
6 Edible Ectomycorrhizal Mushrooms
197
inhibit dramatically their growth.
Herbicide the allelopathic effects of mushrooms, and their potential implications in control of weeds of agricultural importance, have been analyzed by different authors such as Araya (2007) and Chaumont (1985). Araya (2007) evaluated
the potential allelopathic effect of dried sporomes of 83 mushrooms by using as
model plants lettuces (Lactuca sativa L.). This author found that some EEMs
including M. esculenta, Cortinarius violaceus, L. decastes, and Ramaria formosa
showed a very strong inhibitory plant growth effect, due to the production of
allelochemical bioactive compounds. However, one of the most fascinating
examples of allelopathy induced by the mycelium of EEMs is produced by truffles.
In this case, the development of some herbaceous plants and most bushes around
the trees colonized by these mushrooms (for example Tuber melanosporum Vitt) is
inhibited by a number of volatile organic compounds secreted by the ectomycorrhizal mycelium (Splivallo et al. 2007) and the soil remains almost naked. This
phenomenon forms characteristic ‘‘burnt areas’’ or ‘‘brûlé’’ in French (Streiblova
et al. 2012). Some bioactive phytotoxic compounds like dimethyl sulfide,
2-butanone, 2-butanol, 2-methyl propanol, 2-methyl butanol, 3-methyl butanol,
2-methyl propanal, 2-methyl butanal, and 3-methyl butanal have already been
identified (Lanza et al. 2004; Pacioni 1991). Also, it has been shown that some
hormones including ethylene and indol acetic acid act as potent herbicides
(Splivallo et al. 2009). Additionally, different coumarins, including scopoletin,
angelicin, and bergaptene, have been found in T. melanosporum Vitt, T. aestivum
Vitt, and T. borchii Vitt (Tirillini and Stoppini 1996). This is an interesting fact
because it has been demonstrated that some coumarins have an evident allelopathic effect on some plants (Guo et al. 2013a, b; Abenavoli et al. 2003). These
studies are potentially important in the search of bioactive compounds of mycological-origin biopesticides targeted against weeds.
It is important to highlight that in general, the process of production of secondary metabolites by EEMs is an extremely important coevolutionary process
which regulate their ecological interactions with faunal, plant, and microbial
components in natural ecosystems, and this is the main reason of their great
complexity (Mello et al. 2013; Müller et al. 2013; Splivallo et al. 2011; Kempken
and Rohlfs, 2010; Rohlfs and Churchill, 2011). Despite this, the findings of
insecticidal, nematicidal, antifungal, and allelopathic properties from EEMs
undoubtedly open the possibility to find novel bioactive natural compounds useful
in the control of pests (or biogenic pesticides), pathogens and weeds in agriculture.
6.4 Biotechnology and Sustainability
The sustainable development approach was considered important since the 1970s,
but it was not formalized until 1987 when the United Nations World Commission
on Environment and Development proposed a definition in the report entitled
6 Edible Ectomycorrhizal Mushrooms
197