Data from: Volatile organic compounds of diverse origins and their changes associated with cultivar decay in a fungus-farming termite
Data files
Feb 17, 2025 version files 69.92 MB
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README.md
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Vidkjaer_EMI_GCMS_DataFiles.zip
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Vidkjaer_EMI_MetaData.csv
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Abstract
Fungus-farming termites cultivate a Termitomyces fungus monoculture in enclosed gardens (combs) free of other fungi, except during colony declines, where Pseudoxylaria spp. stowaway fungi appear and take over combs. Here, we determined Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) of healthy Macrotermes bellicosus nests in nature and VOC changes associated with comb decay during Pseudoxylaria takeover. We identified 443 VOCs with unique volatilomes across samples and nest volatilomes mainly being composed of fungus comb VOCs with termite contributions. Few comb VOCs were linked to chemical changes during decay, but longipinocarvone and longiverbenone were only emitted during comb decay. These terpenes may be involved in Termitomyces defence against antagonistic fungi or in fungus-termite signalling of comb state. Both comb and Pseudoxylaria biomass volatilomes contained many VOCs with antimicrobial activity that may serve in maintaining healthy Termitomyces monocultures or aid in the antagonistic takeover by Pseudoxylaria during colony decline. We further observed a series of oxylipins that are known to serve diverse functions in the regulation of fungus germination, growth, and secondary metabolite production. Our volatilome map of the fungus-farming termite symbiosis provides new insights into the chemistry regulating complex interactions and serves as a valuable guide for future work on the roles of VOCs in symbioses.
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.jh9w0vtkr
This dataset contains the raw unprocessed .netCDF files from GC-MS analyses (with thermal desorption) of VOCs collected from Macrotermes bellicosus fungus-farming termite nests. Samples consists of headspace VOCs collected from three natural nests in-situ as well as healthy fungus combs, decaying combs and biomass from the stowaway competitor fungus, Pseudoxylaria originating from each of the three nests. All samples originate from M. bellicosus colonies in the area surrounding the Lamto Ecological Research Station (6°13′01.6″ N, 5°01′31.6″ W) in Côte d’Ivoire.
The VOCs were collected with two different dynamic sampling systems on hydrophobic sorbent tubes (150 mg Tenax TA/200 mg Carbograph 1TD (#C2-AXXX-5032), Markes International, Llantrisant, UK). Nest headspace VOCs were collected with a Pocket pump (50 ml/min; TOUCH; SKC Ltd., Blandford Forum, UK) while Pseudoxylaria, fungus comb, and decaying comb headspace VOCs were collected for 15 min with a push-pull headspace sampling system with the samples placed inside a pre-cleaned (60 min, 120 °C) Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) oven bag. Air inlets and outlet tubes were inserted through holes cut in opposite corners of the bag and secured tightly closed using metal wire to prevent contamination from ambient air. Air flows were controlled by battery-operated pumps (12 V; Rietschle Thomas, Puchheim, Germany) with flow rates of 200 ml/min for incoming air and 150 mL min-1 for outgoing sample air. Additional information about the VOC sampling and GC-MS analysis are included in the article (https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.70049).
Description of the data and file structure
The dataset is included in the file: GCMS_DataFiles.zip and contains one .netCDF data file for each sample. The files can be opened with any software that can read .netCDF files. A description of each data file is included in the metadata file: Vidkjaer_EMI_MetaData.csv.
Explanation of columns in the metadata file (Vidkjaer_EMI_MetaData.csv):
GC-MS Data file: Name of the .netCDF data file.
Datafile#: Unique number for the .netCDF data file.
Sample type: List the type of sample from which the VOCs were collected: Nest fungus comb chamber: VOCs sampled from the central fungus chamber M. bellicosus nests; Fungus combs: Comb from M. bellicosus nests; Decaying fungus comb: Comb from M. bellicosus nests placed in boxes for five days until Pseudoxylaria growth was visible and extensive. Pseudoxylaria biomass was then removed and these samples contains VOCs emitted from the decaying combs; Pseudoxylaria: Pseudoxylaria biomass sampled from the decaying combs; SamplingBlank: These samples are background VOCs collected for each VOC sampling day by connecting a sorbent tube to an empty oven bag; TravelBlank: These samples are pre-cleaned sorbent cartridges that travelled to and from the field site alongside the sample tubes, but remained unopened; InstrumentBlank: No-injection column blank; EmptyTube: Empty stainless-steel cartridges containing no sorbent material; Standard: The two standard mixes (StdMix and AlkMix) were run at each day of analyses and with the different split ratios. These mixes was prepared by injecting the standards onto pre-cleaned stainless steel hydrophobic sorbent cartridges under a flow of nitrogen. Additional details concerning the composition and concentrations of the standard mixes are included in the articles Materials and Method section and in Supplementary Table S2 (https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.70049).
M. bellicosus colony: Macrotermes bellicosus colony from which the sample was collected.
Sample ID: Unique sample identifier.
Sorbent tube number: Serial number of the sorbent tube used for VOC collection.
Sampling Date: Date of VOC sampling (yymmdd).
Sampling time: Time of VOC collection (hour:minute).
Pump ID: ID number of the pump used for VOC sampling. SN181661 is a Pocket pump. 1YG and 1RG are the battery-operated pumps used for the push-pull headspace sampling system. Additional details are available in the articles Materials and Method section (https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.70049).
Sampling duration (min): Duration of the VOC sampling in minutes.
Sample weight (g): Wet weight of the sample material.
Mean flow rate out (ml/min): Mean flow rate out.
Mean flow rate in (ml/min): Mean flow rate in.
Temperature in sampling chamber: Temperature in the sampling chamber measured with an iButton.
Relative humidity in sampling chamber (%): Relative humidity measured with an iButton in the sampling chamber.
Weather during sampling: Weather conditions during sampling.
Analysis Date: Data of GC-MS analysis (dd/mm/yyyy).
Split flow: The split flow used for the GC-MS analysis.
Associated Standard Mix: Name of the standard mix used for VOC identification and quantification. Further details about the mix are included in the papers supplementary table S2 and in the Materials and Method section.
Associated Alkane Mix: Name of the alkane mix used for VOC identification and quantification. Further details about the mix are included in the articles supplementary table S2 and in the Materials and Method section (https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.70049).
Comments: Additional information.
This dataset contains the raw unprocessed .netCDF files from GC-MS analyses (with thermal desorption) of VOCs collected from Macrotermes bellicosus fungus-farming termite nests. Samples consists of headspace VOCs collected from three natural nests in-situ as well as healthy fungus combs, decaying combs and biomass from the stowaway competitor fungus, Pseudoxylaria originating from each of the three nests. All samples originate from M. bellicosus colonies in the area surrounding the Lamto Ecological Research Station (6°13′01.6″ N, 5°01′31.6″ W) in Côte d’Ivoire.
The VOC were collected with two different dynamic sampling systems on hydrophobic sorbent tubes (150 mg Tenax TA/200 mg Carbograph 1TD (#C2-AXXX-5032), Markes International, Llantrisant, UK). Nest headspace VOCs were collected with a Pocket pump (50 ml/min; TOUCH; SKC Ltd., Blandford Forum, UK) while Pseudoxylaria, fungus comb and decaying comb headspace VOCs were collected for 15 min with a push-pull headspace sampling system with the samples placed inside a pre-cleaned (60 min, 120 °C) Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) oven bag. Air inlets and outlet tubes were inserted through holes cut in opposite corners of the bag and secured tightly closed using metal wire to prevent contamination from ambient air. Air flows were controlled by battery-operated pumps (12 V; Rietschle Thomas, Puchheim, Germany) with flow rates of 200 ml/min for incoming air and 150 mL min-1 for outgoing sample air.
- Vidkjær, Nanna Hjort; Schmidt, Suzanne; Davie‐Martin, Cleo Lisa et al. (2025). Volatile Organic Compounds of Diverse Origins and Their Changes Associated With Cultivar Decay in a Fungus‐Farming Termite. Environmental Microbiology. https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.70049