Abstract

The aim of this study was firstly to determine if volatiles produced by a range of bacteria influences the growth of the fungus Aureobasdium pullulans and secondly, to determine if this fungus can use organic volatiles hydrocarbons as a sole carbon source. The results show that a) bacteria produce volatiles which influence the growth of the fungus A. pullulans, b) that the response to such volatiles can be inhibitory or stimulatory and that these effects are seen when the fungus is grown under both nutrient-rich and nutrient-poor conditions, and c) that A. pullulans can grow oligotrophically in saturated atmospheres of acetone, benzene and ammonium hydroxide, these volatiles being used as nutrient sources.

Key words: Fungi, bacteria, volatiles, bacterial volatiles, chemical volatiles.