Collection, Identification, and Statistical Analysis of Volatile Organic Compound Patterns Emitted by Phytoplasma Infected Plants.

In this chapter, we give an introduction to innovative attempts for the collection, identification, and statistical analysis of volatile organic compound (VOC) patterns emitted by phytoplasma-infected plants compared to healthy plants by the use of state-of-the-art techniques. This encompasses headspace-sampling techniques, gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, and identification of VOC patterns by the "Automated Mass Spectral Deconvolution and Identification System" (AMDIS) followed by appropriate statistical analysis.