terclim by ICS banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 International Congress on Grapevine and Wine Sciences 9 2ICGWS-2023 9 A comprehensive study on the effect of foliar mineral treatments on grapevine microbiota, flavonoid gene expression, and berry composition

A comprehensive study on the effect of foliar mineral treatments on grapevine microbiota, flavonoid gene expression, and berry composition

Abstract

Recently, foliar treatments with mineral-based compounds have shown positive effects on grapevine production by protecting grape from thermal excesses and reducing the decoupling between technological and phenolic maturity caused by climate change.  Unraveling the effect of mineral particle applications on grape-associated microbes is pivotal for successful wine processing, due to the influence of the microbiota on wine composition and stability. To our knowledge, this is the first work that comprehensively studied the effects of kaolin and chabasite-rich zeolitites treatments on grape-related microorganisms (by real-time PCR quantification of total fungi, Hanseniospora uvarum, Metschnikowia pulcherrima, plant-associated bacteria and lactic acid bacteria), the expression of genes related to the flavonoid biosynthesis (PAL1, CHS1, F3H2, DFR, LDOX, UFGT, MYBA1, GST4, FLS4 genes) and the berry composition (°Brix, pH, acidity and anthocyanin concentrations) in cv. Sangiovese during ripening in two growing seasons (2019 and 2020). Here, we found both mineral treatments to cause elicitation of several flavonoid-related genes and development of higher anthocyanin concentration in berries without an alteration of the final technological maturity of grapes. Fungal and bacterial levels fluctuated over the growing season. Interestingly, we observed that in a climatic season characterized by mild temperatures and high rainfall (2020), no effect of the treatments was observed on the microorganisms analysed. Conversely, in a more stressful year (2019), chabasite-rich zeolitites treatments induced an increase in total fungi and H. uvarum populations 48h upon the second spray. Additionally, at the same sampling date, we observed higher M. pulcherrima population in kaolin treated berries in respect to control ones. However, treated grapes did not show significant differences on microbial composition at harvest. These results support the use of foliar mineral treatments to ameliorate anthocyanins concentration in grapes berries, protecting them from excessive heat without altering their native microbiota.

DOI:

Publication date: October 3, 2023

Issue: ICGWS 2023

Type: Article

Authors

Daniela Sangiorgio1, Gabriele Valentini1, Chiara Pastore1, Gianluca Allegro1, Davide Gottardi1, Francesca Patrignani1, Francesco Spinelli1, Ilaria Filippetti1

1Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (DISTAL), University of Bologna, Viale Fanin, 46, 3rd floor, 40127 Bologna, Italy

Contact the author*

Keywords

kaolin, chabazite-rich zeolitite, bacteria, fungi, grape

Tags

2ICGWS | ICGWS | ICGWS 2023 | IVES Conference Series

Citation

Related articles…

Can yeast cells sense other yeasts beyond competition interactions?

The utilization of non-Saccharomyces yeasts in the wine industry has increased significantly in recent years. Alternative species need commonly be employed in combination with Saccharomyces cerevisiae to avoid stuck fermentation, or microbial spoilage. The employment of more than one yeast starter can lead to interactions between different species with an impact on the outcome of wine fermentation. Previous studies[1] demonstrated that S. cerevisiae elicits transcriptional responses with both shared and species-specific features in co-culture with other yeast species.

Mapping grapevine metabolites in response to pathogen challenge: a Mass Spectrometry Imaging approach

Every year, viticulture is facing several outbreaks caused by established diseases, such as downy mildew and grey mould, which possess different life cycles and modes of infection. To cope with these different aggressors, grapevine must recognize them and arm itself with an arsenal of defense strategies.
The regulation of secondary metabolites is one of the first reactions of plants upon pathogen challenge. Their rapid biosynthesis can highly contribute to strengthen the defense mechanisms allowing the plant to adapt, defend and survive.

Nitrogen forms and Iron deficiency: how do Grapevine rootstocks responses change?

Grapevine rootstocks provide protection against environmental biotic and abiotic stresses. Nitrogen (N) and iron (Fe) are growth-limiting factors in many crop plants due to their effects on the chlorophyll and photosynthetic characteristics. Iron nutrition of plants can be significantly affected by different nitrogen forms through altering the uptake ratio of cations and anions, and changing rhizosphere pH. The aim of this study was to investigate the response mechanisms of grapevine rootstocks due to the interaction between different nitrogen forms and iron uptake.

Unveiling a hidden link: does time hold the key to altered spectral signatures of grapevines under drought?

Remote sensing technology captures spectral data beyond the visible range, making it useful for monitoring plant stress. Vis-NIR (Visible-Near Infrared) spectroscopy (400-1000 nm) is commonly used to indirectly assess plant status during drought. One example is the widespread use of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) that is strongly linked to green biomass. However, a knowledge gap exists regarding the applicability of this method to all the drought conditions and if it is a direct correlation to the water status of the plant.

The weak role of organic mulches in shaping bacterial communities in grapevine

The interest in sustainable and ecologic agricultural practices in grapevine has grown significantly in recent years in the context of ecological transition. Organic mulches are treatments that support the circular economy and positively affect the soil and the plant. They are an alternative to herbicides and other conventional practices since they may influence soil moisture, erosion, structure and weed control. However, their effects on the soil and must microbiota remain unknown.