Health monitoring of plants by their emitted volatiles: A model to predict the effect of Botrytis cinerea on the concentration of volatiles in a large-scale greenhouse

• Published in: Biosystems engineering Vol. 106; no. 1; pp. 37 - 47
• Main Authors: Jansen, R.M.C., Hofstee, J.W., Wildt, J., Vanthoor, B.H.E., Verstappen, F.W.A., Takayama, K., Bouwmeester, H.J., van Henten, E.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agricultural machinery and engineering; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Air pollution; Biological and medical sciences; Botrytis cinerea; chemical concentration; dependence; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungal plant pathogens; Generalities. Biometrics, experimentation. Remote sensing; Greenhouse effect; greenhouse experimentation; Greenhouse gases; Greenhouses; indicator; Mathematical models; methyl salicylate; monitoring; monoterpenes; odor emissions; partition-coefficients; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; plant health; plant pathogenic fungi; Plants (organisms); prediction; Salicylates; semivolatile organic-compounds; sorption; stress; Stress concentration; system; temperature; voc emissions; volatile compounds; Volatile organic compounds; Volatile compound; Bioengineering; Plant pathogen; Botrytis cinerea; Health; Prediction; Concentration; Forecast model; Volatiles; Modeling; Fungi; Engineering; Health status; Surveillance; Mould; Agriculture; Fungi Imperfecti; Large scale; Greenhouse
• ISSN: 1537-5110; 1537-5129
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2010.01.009

This paper describes a model to calculate the concentrations of ( Z)-3-hexenol, α-pinene, α-terpinene, β-caryophyllene, and methyl salicylate in a greenhouse on the basis of their source and sink behaviour. The model was used to determine whether these volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be used to indicate Botrytis cinerea infection in a large-scale tomato production greenhouse with a volume of 5 × 10 4 m 3 containing 2.2 × 10 4 plants. Seven experiments were done to parameterise the model for these VOCs. Based on model predictions, the B. cinerea-induced increase in concentration of methyl salicylate is detectable in a large-scale tomato production greenhouse when: (a) windows are fully opened, and (b) the increase continues for at least 1 h, and (c) 5% of the plants are infected. The B. cinerea-induced increase in concentration of methyl salicylate is also detectable when: (a) windows are closed, and (b) the increase continues for at least 6 h, and (c) 5% of the plants are infected. The B. cinerea-induced increase in concentration of ( Z)-3-hexenol is detectable under all conditions studied. However, it is expected that besides infected plants, many additional sources of ( Z)-3-hexenol exist including plant debris and nearby field crops especially upon harvest or stress. The B. cinerea-induced increases in concentration of α-pinene, α-terpinene and β-caryophyllene are probably undetectable in a large-scale tomato production greenhouse. Therefore, it is recommended to focus on the detection of methyl salicylate to indicate B. cinerea infections in large-scale tomato production greenhouses.