Uncovering the influence of vineyard management on fungal community structure and functional diversity within above-ground compartments

Abstract

In viticulture, microbial communities – particularly fungi – play a vital role in plant health, disease management, and grape quality. This study, conducted in Geisenheim as part of the InBioDyn long-term trial, explores how different vineyard management systems (integrated, organic, and biodynamic) affect fungal diversity and function in the above-ground plant parts, including bark, leaves, and grapes.

Across management systems, overall fungal species richness has been shown to not differ significantly. The composition of fungal communities, however, significantly varied among the studied management systems. Specifically, the leaf and grape compartments under integrated management showed distinct shifts in fungal community structure when compared to organic and biodynamic approaches, resulting in a higher abundance of mycoparasitic fungi (e.g., Sporobolomyces roseus, Sporobolomyces ellipsoideus, and Rhodotorula glutinis). In contrast, organic and biodynamic systems did not differ significantly in terms of fungal community composition.

These results underscore the critical role of management strategies in shaping fungal community composition and demonstrate how management practices can selectively influence functional components of fungal communities. This study highlights the potential for targeted microbiome management through strategic vineyard practices to enhance sustainability and plant health in viticulture.