Volatile profile ofEchinacea purpureaplants afterin vitroendophyte infection

The differences in volatile profile ofEchinacea purpureaplants not-inoculated (EpC) and inoculated with their endophytes from roots (EpR) and stem/leaves (EpS/L) were analysed and compared by GC-FID/GC-MS in anin vitromodel. Non-terpenes and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons were the most abundant classes with an opposite behaviour of EpS/L showing a decreased emission of sesquiterpenes and an increase of non-terpene derivatives. The main compounds obtained from EpS/L were (Z)-8-dodecen-1-ol and 1-pentadecene, while germacrene D and beta-caryophyllene were the key compounds in EpC and EpR. For the first time, this work indicates that bacterial endophytes modify the aroma profiles of infected and non-infectedin vitroplants of the important medicinal plantE. purpurea. Therefore, our model of infection could permit to select endophytic strains to use as biotechnological tool in the production of medicinal plants enriched in volatile bioactive compounds.